CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | BOX SCORE
 
ORLANDO –  SMU junior Brandon Terwege netted the golden goal in the 106^th minute, as the second-seeded Mustangs defeated No. 3 seed USF 2-1 in double overtime to advance to the American Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship for the third-consecutive season.
 
SMU (15-1-1) prevailed in an exciting back-and-forth offensive contest that saw 27 total shots. The No. 10-ranked Mustangs held a 17-10 edge in shots with eight on goal, and a 7-1 advantage in corners.
 
USF (10-6-1) received a remarkable performance in net from senior Harrison Devenish-Meares, who finished with six saves to keep the Bulls within striking distance. Adrian Billhardt was the lone goal scorer for USF, burying a penalty kick in the 77^th minute.
 
Several near misses on crosses highlighted the first 10 minutes of action, until SMU earned a corner in the 14^th minute. Gabriel Costa’s feed deflected off several players and to the top of the box, where Nicky Hernandez connected, sending a shot through the defense and dribbling past the far post.
 
USF responded by dictating play for the remainder of the first, creating several quality chances and forcing a pair of saves from SMU goalkeeper Grant Makela. Heading into the break, the Bulls owned a 7-2 advantage in shots.
 
The tides turned in the second, with SMU playing the ball forward in the early minutes. Devenish-Meares kept USF within a tally with several diving saves, helping the Bulls build back momentum that culminated in the 77^th minute. Emilio Ycaza was taken down in the box, resulting in the penalty kick conversion by Billhardt.
 
The Mustangs had a prime opportunity to steal back the lead just five minutes later, when they were awarded their own penalty kick, but the try by Costa sailed wide right to ensure overtime.
 
SMU regained its touch in the extra minutes, firing off six shots until Devenish-Meares made a fingertip save on a dive in the 106^th minute. The deflection resulted in a Mustang corner, and Terwege emerged from the ensuing scrum to tap in the game-winner.
 
The Bulls, currently sitting at No. 30 in the RPI rankings, will await a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Championship when the field is announced on Monday.
 
SMU, the two-time defending conference tournament champions, will meet the winner of the second semifinal matchup between top-seeded UCF and No. 5 seed Temple. The title game is slated for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday and will be available live on ESPN3.
 
 
2019 American Athletic Conference
Men’s Soccer Championship
 
Saturday, Nov. 9 – First Round
Hosted at campus sites
Game 1: No. 3 USF 1, No. 6 UConn 0
Game 2: No. 5 Temple 2, No. 4 Memphis 1 (2OT)
 
Wednesday, Nov. 13 – Semifinals
Hosted by UCF - American Digital Network
Game 3: No. 2 SMU 2, No. 3 USF 1 (2OT)
Game 4: No. 5 Temple vs. No. 1 UCF – 7 p.m. ET
 
Saturday, Nov. 16 – Championship
Hosted by UCF – ESPN3
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 – 7 p.m. ET