SMU defeats FC Dallas reserves 1-0
Published 4/15/2008 1:04:44 PM by staff from smu
The SMU men's soccer team posted its third shutout in as many games Sunday as goalkeepers Craig Hill and Jonathan Lester combined to blank the FC Dallas reserves, 1-0, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco. Upcoming seniore Richard Oliva, a forward during the season who has been training this spring as a defender, scored the only goal the Mustangs would need less than 10 minutes into the game when he converted an assist from midfielder Kekoa Osorio. SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman, who has made strengthening the Mustangs' defense a priority this spring, was understandably pleased to see his team register its third straight shutout - all against professional teams - this spring. "It's fantastic," he said of his defense's performance this spring. "When I look at what this team has accomplished this spring - these guys have done more than I could expect, and I expect a lot from this team. We've had to move a few guys to other positions this spring, and several have really stepped forward. It's been nice to see a lot of guys take advantage of their opportunities this spring, because when the fall comes around, we're going to have a lot of guys competing for playing time." In addition to Oliva, several other Mustangs have played new positions this spring. Osorio, normally a forward during the 2007 season, has excelled in the defensive midfield role vacated by graduating senior Ben Shuleva, and former midfielder/forward Esteban Mariel has taken over a center defender role. Even forward Dane Saintus got a few minutes Sunday at the right defender position. The FC Dallas reserves featured two former SMU players: midfielder Chase Wileman and forward Dario Saintus, and have been shut out twice this spring by the Ponies. SMU will close out the spring schedule at 7 p.m. this Friday with a game against Midwestern State at Westcott Field.
Label: SMU soccer, Jonathan Lester, Richard Oliva, Esteban Mariel
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