SMU Soccer Wins At Temple
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AMBLER, Pa. (SMU) – Freshman Bryce Clark tallied his first career goal with just 19 seconds left in the first overtime period to lift the SMU men’s soccer team over Temple, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs, who are receiving votes in the NSCAA Coaches Poll, move to 7-3-1 in 2014, with a 3-0-1 conference mark. Temple fell to 2-8-2 with the loss, and 1-2-1 in American action.
“We played very well and maintained possession in the match and scored a deserving goal in the first half,” Head Coach Tim McClements said. “We came out in the second half and unfortunately, on a defensive lapse, gave up a goal, but they got right back to playing the way we were in the first half.”
The Mustangs found themselves with the ball deep in the Temple corner in the waning seconds of the first overtime period with junior John Lujano gaining possession just outside the top of the 18-yard box. Lujano touched it to Clark who teed it up and sent the ball into the upper 90 from about 20 yards out for the match winner. The assist was Lujano’s second this season.
“He [Clark] hit an exceptional shot during the first overtime to put it away,” McClements added.
SMU had the 20-5 edge in shots in the match, including 14 chances on goal. However, Owl
goalkeeper Dan Scheck was able to keep TU in the match registering 12 saves.
Senior Damian Rosales got the scoring started in the match with a 44th-minute strike to give SMU the momentum heading into the break. The goal was Rosales’ second in as many games, with the assist credited to Mauro Cichero to tie him for third on the team this season.
“Damian’s someone who has been a starter for us for a long period of time,” McClements said. “We’ve had to nurse him along with injury, but he’s almost back to 100%. He’s riding a two-game goal scoring streak and that’s great for him. We will see more of him as the season progresses.”
Temple was able to knot the match, 1-1, at the 55 minute mark as Olli Tynkkynen received a cross inside the six-yard box for his third of the season.
Junior Idrissa Camara had a game-high six shots on goal in the match, while Cichero added three on frame. Defensively, Clark, Jordan Cano, Jared Rice and Garrett Welch went the distance in the back allowing only three shots on goal.
“The defense is the building block of everything we do,” McClements said. “They’re the first line of defense and start of attack. They do an excellent job working on both sides of ball. We don’t consider them freshmen with as much experience as they’ve had. They work hard individually and collectively, and they’re starting to see fruits of their labor and how hard they’re working by getting wins and some clean sheets.”
Michael Nelson was only forced to make a pair of saves in 110 minutes of action.
The Mustangs are back in action for a midweek, non-conference match against Central Arkansas on Wednesday. Kickoff on the Hilltop is slated for 7 p.m. with live stats and video available at SMUMustangs.com.
