Engel scores twice, men's soccer tops S. Carolina (w/ VIDEO)

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Engel Nets Two Goals In 75 Seconds, Lifts Mustangs Over South Carolina In Conference Opener

Sept. 24, 2012

DALLAS (SMU) - Sophomore Tyler Engel scored two goals in 75 seconds as the SMU men's soccer team defeated South Carolina, 2-1, to open Conference USA play Monday night at Westcott Field. With the win, the Mustangs move to 5-2-2 on the year and hold a 1-0 mark in league action.

Engel's first tally came at 33:38. Freshman Derek Schrick sent a long through pass up the field to Engel, who dribbled past two defenders and chipped the ball over South Carolina goalkeeper Alex Long and in for a 1-0 lead. Engel doubled the score with a nearly identical goal just 75 seconds later. Sophomore Andrew Morales fed a ball up the middle to Engel who deked a defender and sent the ball to the lower right corner. Engel leads the Mustangs in points (11), goals (4) and game-winning goals (3).

South Carolina added a last-minute goal with Jeffrey Torda found Asa Kryst on a corner kick. Kryst headed the ball home to cut the Gamecock deficit in half.

Goalkeeper Jaime Ibarra had another stellar performance in the net for the Mustangs. Ibarra made seven stops on the night, including several diving saves. The junior has allowed only two goals in the past four games, stopping two penalty kicks in that span.

SMU's win was bolstered by the SMU Student Athletic Advisory Committee's annual "Pack the House" event, with more than 175 SMU student athletes in attendance.

The Mustangs travel to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB at 7 p.m. on Friday. Last year, SMU shut out the Blazers 2-0 in the C-USA Championship final to claim the Mustangs' first tournament title since 2006.


Head coach Tim McClements


Forward Tyler Engel

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Great interviews - thanks!

The team really does look like it is coming together at just the right time - hopefully this will be a great final run through C-USA!!!!!!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

The C-USA notebook had an interesting item today. SMU has played the 23rd toughest schedule in the country so far this season.

http://www.conferenceusa.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/092512aad.html

According the most recent Massey Ratings (9/23), six C-USA teams have played top-50 strength of schedules this season - tied for the most of any league in the country (ACC, Big East). The Massey Ratings currently ranks C-USA as the third-best conference in its power rating, ahead of the Big East, Big West and Big 10, among others.

Team - SOS
South Carolina - 7
Tulsa - 19
SMU - 23
Kentucky - 33
UCF - 45
UAB - 50


I think after last season's schedule, everybody kind of looked at this season like it would be "easier".

So SMU is 5-2-2, and 1-0-0 in C-USA - all while usually starting 8-9 sophomores/freshmen and not having first team all-conference MF Juan Castillo until the past two games and even then only in a limited capacity.

Obviously, C-USA is going to be tough, but this season still definitely has the potential to be a very good one.