SMU Picked To Repeat As C-USA Men's Soccer Champs

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Picked To Repeat As C-USA Men's Soccer Champs
Ivo, Castillo named Preseason All-Conference

Aug. 10, 2011

IRVING, Texas (SMU/C-USA) - The No. 5 SMU men's soccer team is picked to repeat as Conference USA champions as voted by the league's head coaches. Senior Arthur Ivo is the C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and sophomore Juan Castillo is also on the Preseason All-Conference Team.

SMU is coming off a season in which it advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, posted a 16-2-2 record and won the Conference USA regular season title.

Ivo was named Second Team All-America and First Team All-Midwest Region in 2010 after leading the Mustangs with 25 points in 20 games. The Hermann Trophy semifinalist tied for the team lead in goals (10) and recorded two game-winners. Ivo's biggest goal of the year kept SMU's season alive as he scored the game-tying goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation against No. 17 Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Following two scoreless overtime periods, Ivo then converted the Mustangs' fifth shootout attempt to advance SMU 5-3 on penalty kicks. Ivo was also named the Conference USA Co-MVP and Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and received numerous weekly awards including the NSCAA's National Player of the Week Oct. 18-24.

Castillo was also selected First Team All-Midwest region as he collected 24 points in his first collegiate season. The freshman tied Ivo with 10 goals on the year and recorded four game-winning goals. Castillo started the Mustangs' comeback in the NCAA Second Round against No. 17 Creighton, when he tied the game at one on a header in the 79th minute. Castillo had a six-game goal-scoring streak Sept. 6 - 24, including three consecutive game-winners, and was named the NSCAA's National Player of the Week of Sept. 13-19 for his efforts. In addition, Castillo was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, made the C-USA Second Team and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team.

The Mustangs open the season Aug. 27 with a tilt against No. 13 William & Mary, a rematch of the NCAA Round of 16 game from 2010. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Westcott Field.

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).

2011 C-USA Men's Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team
Arthur Ivo, SMU, M - C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Justin Chavez, Tulsa, D - C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Dylan Asher, Kentucky, D
Bradlee Baldez, South Carolina, F
Juan Castillo, SMU, F
Warren Creavalle, UCF, M
Kevan George, UCF, D
Anthony Hobbs, FIU, D
Matt Lodge, Kentucky, M
Nik Robson, UCF, F
Babayele Sodade, UAB, F

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Great to see more positive preseason press.

It is certainly going to be a challenge this season, but I think this team is up for it.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I do like the fact the CUSA is going with the very rare 4-3-4 formation with no keeper!

Actually, Daniel Withrow of Marshall was named to the team as GK, but the official SMU release inadvertently omitted him. The conference web site does say 12 players are on the team because of a voting tie.

But, the strangest thing if you read the article on the CUSA site is SMU only received 5 of the first-place votes in the coaches poll. UCF had 2, and Tulsa and South Carolina each had 1.

I assume Coach McClements voted for somebody else, but that means three other coaches did not vote for SMU - even though we are ranked No. 5 in the country.