MEN'S SOCCER NOTEBOOK
Eighth-ranked Vermont (14-3-2, 5-1-1 AE) heads to Dallas, Texas to face 11th-seeded SMU (10-5-1, 6-3) in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday (Nov. 20). The opening kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium, and will broadcast live on ESPN+. Tickets are available at SMUmustangs.com.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
CatamounTV: Coach Dow Press Conference
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
SMU grabbed the No. 11 seed and earned a bye into the Second Round. The Mustangs are ranked No. 14 in the NCAA's RPI, which is one spot ahead of the Catamounts. SMU suffered a loss to third-seeded South Florida in the American Athletic Conference Semifinals. At home, the Mustangs are 8-0-1 (.944), which is the eighth-best home record in the country. Knut Ahlander leads the SMU attack with 12 goals and four assists on the season. Alexander Petraeus has a team-high nine assists. The Mustangs have played the 12th toughest schedule in the nation.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and SMU will meet for the first time in series history Sunday night. The Catamounts will be making their first-ever trip to Texas for the matchup.
 
CATS IN THE SECOND ROUND
The Catamounts will play in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history, and the first time since 2016. Vermont is 1-2 in the Second Round with its lone win coming in a 1-0 overtime victory over Yale in 1989. UVM suffered a 2-1 double overtime loss at Virginia in its most recent appearance.
 
CATS IN THE TOURNAMENT
UVM's NCAA Tournament berth is its 12th in program history. The Catamounts are 5-10-2 in tournament history with its deepest run coming in 1989 when Vermont beat UConn and Yale, before falling to Rutgers in the regional finals.
 
PLAYING RANKED OPPONENTS
Vermont is unbeaten in two games against nationally-ranked opponents this season. The Catamounts played to a 1-1 draw against No. 15 Syracuse in early September, and defeated No. 21 New Hampshire in late October. UVM is 2-0-1 against teams still remaining in the NCAA Tournament, which includes a victory over Cornell earlier this season.
 
RELIVING THE OT THRILLER
The Catamounts battled back from a late one-goal deficit to defeat Quinnipiac 3-2 (OT) in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night at Virtue Field. Noah Egan banged home a header in the 75th minute and Alex Nagy rifled the winner in the 109th minute.
 
CAT STATS
Vermont's defense remains one of the top units in the country, posting a goals against average of .556, which ranks No. 4 in the nation. UVM has a shutout percentage of .526 that is No. 8.
 
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