SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's soccer takes its two-game winning streak on the road this weekend, facing Southern Methodist University on Friday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. PT.
The Broncos are 4-1-1 all-time against the Mustangs. The most recent matchup came in 2003 when the two teams tied, 1-1, and then Santa Clara won on penalty kicks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"We've been on the road so we feel like we're well-versed in what it takes and what is necessary," head coach Cameron Rast said. "We've won a couple games on the road so I feel like we're prepared for it, it's just the challenge of us being sharp on that day. I think we know what we're up against and we're looking to prove ourselves."
Head coach Cameron Rast gives his thoughts on Friday's match against SMU. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/Ge9ul2lv8w
— SCU Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) September 14, 2016
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THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara (3-2) has the best goals against average in the West Coast Conference, allowing just 0.60 goals per game. Along with being tops in the league, that mark is No. 23 in the country. An experienced back line in front of sophomore goalkeeper Dakota Havlick has allowed just three goals after five games and posted two shutouts.
Scoring has not come easy for the Broncos, totaling four goals in five games. Junior Satoshi "Yoshi" Chaffin leads the team with three points (assists worth one, goals worth two) on the year, scoring the Broncos opening goal against CSUF and assisting on the game-winning goal. Delgadillo was the receiver of Chaffin's pass, scoring his 15th-career goal and sixth game-winner. Senior Edson Cardona scored the game-winning goal for SCU from the penalty spot in the match against Northwestern on Aug. 29.
THE MUSTANGS
Brenden Lee leads the team in scoring with three goals on the year followed by Mauro Cichero has tallied two goals. Bryce Clark has dished out two assists on the year while four others have one assist.
"SMU is a traditional powerhouse in men's college soccer," Rast said. "We know going to Dallas to play them is a great, great challenge for us."
Goalkeeper Michael Nelson, the 2014 and 2015 American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, has played every minute of every game for the Mustangs thus far. He has allowed nine goals, made 29 saves and recorded one shutout.
SMU finished the 2015 season with a 15-3-4 overall record and won the AAC title with a 7-0-1 record in league play. The Mustangs advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Akron, 2-1.
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