First Goals for Jannereth and Beyer Lead SMU Past North Texas 2-0 in Home Opener

DALLAS — SMU found the home-opener formula the old-fashioned way: hold your nerve through a tight first half, get a goal from a player who had never scored in a college game, and then get another one from someone who had never scored in a college game either. The Mustangs beat North Texas 2-0 on Sunday night at Washburne Stadium, and it was their first win of the season.

Sophomore Libby Jannereth headed in the opener in the 20th minute, and Lisa Beyer put the finishing touch on it in the 74th. Both goals were the first of their careers. When the whistle blew, SMU had a 16-7 advantage in shots and had allowed only one shot on goal.

A Goal That Almost Was

The night nearly started with a bang. In the third minute, Kamiya Beck put the ball in the net for what looked like an early SMU goal. The flag went up, though, and it was called offside. The game stayed scoreless, and both teams settled into a physical battle for control of the middle of the field.

North Texas had its best moments in the first half. The Mean Green created two real chances. One came off a free kick, when Lillian Vandiver rose above everyone and headed it just wide of the frame. The other came off North Texas's lone corner of the game, when Mia Bernard played it short to Claire Niedermeier, got the ball back and curled a shot into a crowded area that SMU goalkeeper Aubrey Brown punched out.

Jannereth Breaks Through

SMU's break came in the 20th minute. Beck sent an arcing cross across the box, and Jannereth was there to meet it, getting her head on the ball and putting it in the back of the net. It was the first goal of her college career. Beck and Julianne Richter were credited with assists.

The Mustangs kept generating opportunities, but the second goal would have to wait, and they went into the break with a one-goal lead.

The Second Half Belongs to SMU

The second half was where this game was decided. SMU came out of the break determined to keep its foot on the gas, and the numbers back that up. The Mustangs outshot North Texas 9-2 in the period, per SMU's recap, and the SMU back line did not let the Mean Green mount a counter.

North Texas did dominate the first 15 minutes of the second half, according to its own coach, but it could not turn that into a goal. Sarah Margaret Seabrook, a fifth-year goalkeeper making her first collegiate start, finished with six saves. Hannah Phillips and Vandiver were the only two UNT players to play the full 90 minutes, and both had standout games on the back line.

Then came the 74th minute. Beyer danced around a defender and slid the ball into the net for the second goal, and it was her first career goal too. SMU credited Sarah Bonnecaze and Richter with the assists, giving Richter the first multi-assist game of her career. (North Texas's box score credited only Bonnecaze.)

Turning Point

The 74th minute was what sealed it, but the real turning point was the 20th. After a brief feeling-out period, SMU took control of the match, and North Texas never found a way to take it back. Jannereth's header forced the visitors to open up, and the Mustangs' defense made sure the open space never turned into a chance.

Stats That Matter

SMU outshot the Mean Green 16-7, put eight shots on target to North Texas's one, and held a 4-1 edge in corners. Kaylee Noble led the Mustangs with three shots, and six SMU players had at least two. The shutout was the 24th of Nicole Nelson's tenure at SMU. UNT's Seabrook made six saves, while SMU's Brown made one. Fouls were nearly even, with 10 called against North Texas and nine against SMU.

SMU's recap also made note of a long-running series. This was the 24th meeting between the schools. SMU now leads the series 17-4-3, including 11-2-1 at home, has won the last four meetings and has outscored North Texas 59-22 over the 24 games.

What It Means

For SMU, which was 1-1-0 after the win, the result matters mostly as a starting point. A first win at home, a clean sheet, and two first-time goal-scorers make for a good way to open a seven-game home stand. The Mustangs host Boise State on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 5 p.m. CT, and admission to regular-season matches is free.

For North Texas, now 0-1-0, the message from the sideline was about chances. "We have to stop looking for the perfect shot and just hit it," coach John Hedlund said. "That was really the difference in the game — they took their chances in front of goal, while we hesitated." He also praised the defense. "Defensively, I thought we played well," Hedlund said.

The Close

The score will go into a record book as 2-0. The story is a pair of players who had been waiting a long time to score their first goal and found the right night to do it. In August, with a season ahead, that is plenty.

Photo Credit: Luis Revilla Mata/Undrafted