Thursday, September 8
Dallas, TX
7 PM CT
University of North Texas
at
No. 16 SMU
Soccer Travels To No. 16 SMU
9/7/2022 2:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DENTON — The North Texas women's soccer team, which owns the nation's ninth ranked scoring offense, hits the road Thursday for a DFW showdown at No. 16 SMU.
It'll be the first time since 2011 the two Metroplex teams have met. The Mean Green (4-1-1), who are averaging 3.5 goals per match so far this season, are aiming for their first victory over a top 25 opponent since 2003, which also happens to be the last time UNT's attack averaged three or more goals per match.
Thursday's match will kickoff from SMU's Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium at 7 p.m. CT. It will be streamed on ESPN+.
North Texas opened the 2022 season with a bang as they won four straight matches and averaged more than four goals per match during that run. Its form defensively has taken a dip a tad over its last two matches as they lost 3-2 to Oklahoma on Sept. 1 and drew 2-2 with Texas State on Sept.4.
Where UNT is looking to take its next step before conference play begins is its defending of set pieces. Of the seven goals the Mean Green have conceded this year six have come against set pieces/penalty kicks.
Even just a slight improvement in the defense combined with its already lethal attack could blossom a special conference season for the Mean Green who feature four of the league's top five offensive players. Madi Drenowatz, Olivia Klein, Kat Burnell and Taylor Tufts all rank in the top five in C-USA in points.
SMU (3-0-2) heads into Thursday's contest after drawing 1-1 with Oklahoma on Sunday in Norman, Oklahoma. They beat SFA, 2-0, in Dallas in the match prior. UNT beat SFA 4-0 in Nacogdoches, Texas, on Aug. 28.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
North Texas is averaging 3.5 goals per match. That's tied for the ninth-best offense in the nation as of Wednesday. UNT is the only Conference USA school ranked in the top 50 in the nation. UTSA, the second-best scoring offense in C-USA, is averaging 2.3 goals per match and ranks 51st in the nation. Including UNT, only four C-USA schools rank in the top 100 in the nation: UNT (T9th), UTSA (51st), FIU (T71st) and UAB (T71st).
North Texas hasn't averaged 3+ goals per match in a single season since the 2003 season when they scored 72 goals over the 22-match season (3.2 goals/match).
LEADING THE ATTACK AGAIN
North Texas senior Madi Drenowatz led UNT in scoring last year with eight goals. As of Wednesday, Drenowatz is tied for the team lead in goals scored with eight and is the team leader in points with 14. Drenowatz has either scored or assisted on a goal in every match this season. As of Wednesday, Drenowatz's 14 points are the fourth-most in the nation.
ASSIST LEADER
North Texas junior Taylor Tufts led C-USA in assists last season with 10, which ranked 25th in the nation. As of Wednesday, Tufts has had one assist in every match this season. Her six assists as of Wednesday ranks second in the nation and first in C-USA.
Contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or by emailing ticketoffice@unt.edu for more information on UNT Soccer tickets.
It'll be the first time since 2011 the two Metroplex teams have met. The Mean Green (4-1-1), who are averaging 3.5 goals per match so far this season, are aiming for their first victory over a top 25 opponent since 2003, which also happens to be the last time UNT's attack averaged three or more goals per match.
Thursday's match will kickoff from SMU's Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium at 7 p.m. CT. It will be streamed on ESPN+.
North Texas opened the 2022 season with a bang as they won four straight matches and averaged more than four goals per match during that run. Its form defensively has taken a dip a tad over its last two matches as they lost 3-2 to Oklahoma on Sept. 1 and drew 2-2 with Texas State on Sept.4.
Where UNT is looking to take its next step before conference play begins is its defending of set pieces. Of the seven goals the Mean Green have conceded this year six have come against set pieces/penalty kicks.
Even just a slight improvement in the defense combined with its already lethal attack could blossom a special conference season for the Mean Green who feature four of the league's top five offensive players. Madi Drenowatz, Olivia Klein, Kat Burnell and Taylor Tufts all rank in the top five in C-USA in points.
SMU (3-0-2) heads into Thursday's contest after drawing 1-1 with Oklahoma on Sunday in Norman, Oklahoma. They beat SFA, 2-0, in Dallas in the match prior. UNT beat SFA 4-0 in Nacogdoches, Texas, on Aug. 28.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
North Texas is averaging 3.5 goals per match. That's tied for the ninth-best offense in the nation as of Wednesday. UNT is the only Conference USA school ranked in the top 50 in the nation. UTSA, the second-best scoring offense in C-USA, is averaging 2.3 goals per match and ranks 51st in the nation. Including UNT, only four C-USA schools rank in the top 100 in the nation: UNT (T9th), UTSA (51st), FIU (T71st) and UAB (T71st).
North Texas hasn't averaged 3+ goals per match in a single season since the 2003 season when they scored 72 goals over the 22-match season (3.2 goals/match).
LEADING THE ATTACK AGAIN
North Texas senior Madi Drenowatz led UNT in scoring last year with eight goals. As of Wednesday, Drenowatz is tied for the team lead in goals scored with eight and is the team leader in points with 14. Drenowatz has either scored or assisted on a goal in every match this season. As of Wednesday, Drenowatz's 14 points are the fourth-most in the nation.
ASSIST LEADER
North Texas junior Taylor Tufts led C-USA in assists last season with 10, which ranked 25th in the nation. As of Wednesday, Tufts has had one assist in every match this season. Her six assists as of Wednesday ranks second in the nation and first in C-USA.
Contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or by emailing ticketoffice@unt.edu for more information on UNT Soccer tickets.
Players Mentioned
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