Soccer team faces difficult match against No. 8 SMU
The men’s soccer team plays archrival Southern Methodist Friday, a team the Frogs do not have a history of success against.
By Jay Zuckerman
Skiff Staff

The men’s soccer team has a 1-24 all-time record with SMU. This Friday, the Frogs will look to change history.

“If we can get a win against SMU, it could begin a turnaround,” junior forward Aaron Miranda said.

SMU enters the match with a 4-1-1 record and a No. 8 ranking in the latest poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. They are led by senior midfielder Diego Walsh, a Soccer America preseason All-America first team selection.

TCU has a 1-5 record, with four losses by just one goal.

Head coach David Rubinson said the rivalry gives TCU something to look forward to.

“It’s a game that we feel we can always can compete well in,” he said. “It also gives us an idea of where we are as a program.”

There is even more incentive for some players to perform well, said senior midfielder Carrington Brown.

“A lot of guys from both teams are from the Dallas area and they spent time training together during the summer,” he said.

TCU is aided by the return of senior midfielder Nick Browne who does not have a football game that day. Browne led the team in scoring in 2001 with 13 points.

Junior midfielder Justin Franklin will also play, despite a broken arm. Rubinson said Franklin’s return is crucial because he is a strong vocal leader on the field.

Despite their lackluster start, the Frogs have maintained a positive attitude in the last week of practice.

“The players come out and work out hard to train for every game,” Rubinson said. “Five of six games have been one goal games, so we know that our share of the breaks will go our way.”

The Frogs will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Westcott Field in Dallas.