Spring Break
Men's soccer looks to halt three game winless skid
Zack Wehner, Sports Editor, zwehner@smu.edu
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Sports
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In the middle of a three game homestand, the Mustangs will play host to the University of Central Arkansas Bears (2-8-1) at 7 p.m. at Westcott Field.
Last time out, the Mustangs battled to a 1-1 tie with the Gamecocks. The Mustangs only goal came in the 66th minute when junior forward Manuel Mariel converted on a penalty kick. SMU was awarded the kick after freshman Arthur Ivo was taken down in the box.
With only 25 seconds left in the second overtime, SMU junior forward Dane Saintus received a red card. The red card leaves Saintus automatically suspended for one game. The suspension will be served in the game against the Bears.
Before the tie against South Carolina, the Mustangs were reeling from two straight conference losses to Tulsa (4-1) and Memphis (2-1).
While Central Arkansas is not in C-USA, the game will give the Mustangs a chance to reset and get back into winning form.
On the season, the Bears have been outscored 27-9 and shutout four times this season.
On top of scoring under one goal per game, the Bears only have one player with more than one goal on the season. The Bears lack of offense on both the individual and team level bodes well for a Mustangs defensive unit that has given up seven goals in the last three games.
Another element of Sunday night's game to watch will be what formation the Mustangs run. After years of running the 4-4-2, the Mustangs switched to a 4-3-3 by playing senior defender Ryan Mirsky at middle striker.
This change in tactics offers the Mustangs a chance to make a turnaround after starting off the conference season in seventh place.
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