Soccer to Host SMU in Regular Season Finale
10/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
HOUSTON - The University of Houston Cougar Soccer team will play host to in-state rival SMU at 7 p.m., Thursday at Carl Lewis Field to wrap up its regular season.
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Oct. 27 - vs SMU (Carl Lewis Complex), 7 p.m.
| Live Stream
OPPONENT PREVIEW
SMU (11-5-1) (5-2-1)
Mustangs lead the series 12-0-2
Last Meeting: SMU won 1-0 (Oct. 9 2015)
Goals for: 13, Goals Against: 39
SMU comes into its final regular season game with an 11-5-1 overall record and a 5-2-1 mark in American Athletic Conference play. The Mustangs are 4-3 on the road in 2016.
BETWEEN THE POSTS
Houston is the first team in the league to have two different goalkeepers take home Goalkeeper of the Week honors. Sophomore Rachel Estopare has earned conference laurels twice. Estopare took home the honor the second week of the season and on Oct. 17, while freshman Nicole Young earned the conference's weekly award on Sept. 19.
The Cougars have six shutouts this season. With four shutouts in non-conference play, Houston tied the program record for most non-conference shutouts (2005 and 2010). Sophomore Estopare and freshman Young have 91 saves so far this season and have a combined goals against average of 1.28.
GOALS GOALS GOALS!
Through 15 games, five Cougars have scored 19 goals. Sophomore Desiree Bowen leads the squad with seven after nabbing a hat trick in Houston's match against New Mexico State. Juniors Hannah Dauzat and Selena Peters each have four goals. Dauzat's include a hat trick in the season opener against Texas Southern. Junior Vanessa Almaguer has netted three and Brook Runyon has scored one goal.
FRESH FACES
Freshman Young earned conference laurels Sept. 19 after her impressive first outing between the posts against UTSA. The Pearland, Texas, native, captured a season-high nine saves after replacing an injured Estopare. Young went on to record the first shutout of her collegiate career.
Against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, freshmen Brook Runyon and Kaitlyn Wild notched their first collegiate points. Runyon scored the game-winning goal at the 62-minute mark on a breakaway to the right post. The Sugar Land, Texas, native also tallied her first collegiate assist against the Islanders.
Runyon leads the freshmen with three points. Wild also tallied her first collegiate assist on Peters' game-tying goal. Three freshmen, Kaitlin Bub, Morgan Ford and Nolin Packer have started for Houston this season.
HELPING HAND
Peters and Margo McEntire lead the Cougars in assists this season, tallying four apiece. Senior Tiffani Echeverria rounds out the top-three with two on the season with Shayne Clewett, Dauzat, Runyon, Claire Salazar, Kelsey Thein and Wild all with one each.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
The backfield for Houston has seen three of the same faces all season. Defenders Courtney Dudley, Hayley Hubbard and Margo McEntire have started all 15 games for the Cougars along with forward Peters in the front line. Hubbard has played every minute for Houston this season.
PROMOTIONS
Thursday, Oct. 27: Costume Contest
• Best costumes have a chance to win prizes, including a signed football, mini helmet and much more. Giveaways include free pizza for Shasta's Kids Club Members, candy and t-shirts.
TICKETS
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office is proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2016-17 athletic season. For just $80, Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass, which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Soccer, Women's Basketball, Volleyball and Softball home games. Single-game tickets start at $5. To purchase a Shasta Pass, CLICK HERE.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the soccer team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonCougarSoccer) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarSoccer), which provide regular updates on the team and live results during home meets.
--UHCougars.com--
