Men's Soccer Hosts No. 25 SMU on Saturday

PHILADELPHIA - Coming off three straight wins, Temple men's soccer (5-5-1, 1-1) is slated to host No. 25 SMU (7-2-0, 1-1-0) on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. The Owls have won four of their last five matches, seeming to have found the momentum needed to be top competitors.

Help Temple Men's Soccer Support Red Card Cancer!
> Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer will be collecting donations to Red Card Cancer, a soccer-based cancer charity, as part of Red Card Cancer Week. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple University Hospital. Text "SOCCER" to 52000 for a $10 donation or stop by the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer tent for more information.

Scouting the Owls
> On Oct. 3, Temple downed Drexel in a 4-0 shutout. Redshirt senior Mark Grasela scored two goals for the Owls, while sophomore Thibault Candia and freshman Alan Camacho Soto each contributed with one.
> Candia is the Owls' leading scorer with five goals so far in 2017. Camacho Soto follows with four. Grasela and senior Joonas Jokinen have scored three and two, respectively.
> Camacho Soto was named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week for the week of Oct. 1 after leading Temple offense with six points last week, including both goals in the 2-1 (2OT) victory at Memphis. The freshman was also picked as the Philadelphia Soccer Six Player and Rookie of the week.
> Sophomore goalkeeper Michael Samnik was named Philadelphia Soccer Six Defender of the Week for the week of Oct.1. Samnik posted his first career shutout when he blanked Penn State on Wednesday at the Temple Sports Complex, 3-0. The sophomore logged three saves in just his second career start. On Saturday, Samnik and the Temple defense only allowed one goal from Memphis on Sept. 30.
> Temple leads the conference in shots with 160 and is fourth in goals (16).

Scouting the Mustangs
> SMU is ranked No. 25 in the latest United Soccer Coaches' Poll after defeating UCF, 2-1, last week in its conference home opener.
> Jared Rice was named The American Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 1). DJ Williams Jr. was selected to the conference weekly honor roll (Oct. 1).
> SMU is second in the American Athletic Conference in points (5.89), goals (1.89) and assists per game (2.11).
> Garrett McLaughlin is tied for the conference lead in goals with six.
> Mauro Cichero is third in The American in points with 14 (5 goals, 4 assists).

The Series
> SMU leads the all-time series since the first match-up in 2013. Temple's record against the Mustangs is 1-2-1. Last season, the Owls topped SMU 1-0 at Westcott Field in Dallas.

Men's Soccer Hosts No. 25 SMU on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Alan Camacho Soto

Thibault Candia

Mark Grasela

Joonas Jokinen

Michael Samnik

Temple University Athletics