Men's soccer picked second; Castillo named all-conference

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Men’s Soccer: Castillo Named Preseason All-C-USA
Mustangs picked to finish second in conference

Aug. 8, 2012

IRVING, Texas (SMU/C-USA) - SMU men's soccer player Juan Castillo was named to the Preseason All-Conference USA team the league announced today. The junior played in 17 games for the Mustangs last season and was second on the team in points (13), goals (5) and game-winning goals (3). Castillo was tabbed Second Team All-C-USA and was named to the NSCAA Midwest Region Second Team in 2011.

The No. 16 Mustangs were picked to finish second in the league, falling one vote shy of South Carolina. SMU topped South Carolina 1-0 in the conference semifinals, en route to the 2011 C-USA Championship. The Mustangs and Gamecocks will square off in the conference opener on Sept. 24 at Westcott Field.

SMU opens the season against Campbell on Aug. 24 at Westcott Field at 7 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now for $27. Individual game tickets are $6 for adults, and $3 for children 12 and under. Special group ticket prices are available. Tickets can be purchased online at SMUMustangs.com or by calling 214-SMU-GAME.

2012 Preseason All-C-USA Men's Soccer Team
Anthony Hobbs, D, FIU
Dylan Asher, D, Kentucky
Tom Jackson, M, Marshall
Anthony Virgara, M, Marshall
Daniel Withrow, GK, Marshall
Liam Collins, M, Memphis
Mark Sherrod, F, Memphis
Juan Castillo, F, SMU
Bradlee Baladez, F, South Carolina
Omar Mata, M, Tulsa
Reed Matte, D, UAB
McKauly Tulloch, F, UCF
Andrew Quintana, D, UCF

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Great for Juan!

I'm kind of surprised the coaches picked us that close to first when we are in essence replacing five of our ten first choice outfield players from last season, but hopefully they know our incoming freshmen and the players who filled in last season during the injuries will allow us to keep up the momentum we have built up over the past two seasons.

This conference is pretty stacked right now - hopefully we will be able to win it one final time.

Go Ponies!

[Vitale]

That's what I thought. We're losing a lot of talent from last year.

Juan Castillo needs to be healthy, and we need a big year from T.J. Nelson, and we'll need a couple of freshmen and/or 2011 backups (Max Rockwell? Will Smith?) to step in to major roles.