SMU Soccer Players Sweep C-USA Player Of The Week Honors
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU men’s soccer players Juan Castillo and Jaime Ibarra were named the Conference USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively. The Mustangs went 2-0 over the weekend, with a 1-0 win over Cal State-Northridge on Friday and a 2-1 victory over No. 18 UCLA on Sunday. The Mustangs are now 5-3 on the year, are riding a three-game win streak and have won five of their past six contests.
On Friday, Castillo assisted on the game’s lone goal in a 1-0 win over Cal State-Northridge. The sophomore whipped the ball into the box where teammate Tyler Engel stepped in front of a Matador defender and finished from 10 yards out. On Sunday, Castillo once again had a hand in the game-winning goal as SMU downed No. 18 UCLA, 2-1. In the 27th minute, Castillo received a cross in the box, cut the ball across his body and sent it home from just inside the 18. This is Castillo’s third-career Offensive Player of the Week award and first of the season.
Ibarra recorded a shutout Friday night against Cal State-Northridge, which included a huge save on an Edwin Rivas attempt in the final minute of play to preserve the clean sheet. On Sunday, Ibarra came up huge again making three saves as the Mustangs knocked off No. 18 UCLA. SMU was forced to play a man down after a red card in the 74th minute, but Ibarra’s aggressive play in the box, along with a great save in the 89th minute, allowed the Mustangs to hold off the Bruins for a 2-1 win. Ibarra boasts a 5-2 record on the season, allowing just four goals in seven contests along with two shutouts. His 0.57 goals-against average and a .871 save percentage on the season are tops in C-USA. The award is the first of Ibarra’s career.
SMU returns to Westcott Field to open Conference USA action against No. 9 UCF on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. The Knights were the only team to defeat the Mustangs during the 2010 regular season, picking up a 2-1 win on Oct. 2 in Orlando.
Season tickets are on sale now for $24. Individual game tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Blocks of 50 or more tickets are $1 apiece. Tickets can be purchased online at SMUMustangs.com or by calling 214-SMU-GAME (214-768-4263).
