To get ready for a difficult conference schedule, the UD men's soccer team traveled to Albequerque, N.M. for the TLB Plumbing and Utility Invitational. Bringing in some of the nation's finest teams, UD took on the University of Tulsa as well as No. 1 SMU.

The team's first opponent, Tulsa, was a game that featured both offense and defense from the Flyers by posting a 3-0 shutout win. Junior forward Tyler Imbrogno had a goal and two assists in the Sept. 15 match-up. However, Imbrogno was not the only star; goalie Zac Gibbens had three saves to give the Flyers their fourth straight shutout win. Also getting in on the action was Caleb Lindemann. The sophomore forward added his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 29th minute. Antti Arst netted the third goal, his second of the season, in the 67th minute.

The 3-0 win over the Golden Hurricane would prove to be a good warm-up as the Flyers would then take on the nation's top team, the SMU Mustangs, who tied No. 21 New Mexico 1-1 Friday in the night cap. The two teams met up Sunday, and what a Sunday special it was.

In a game which featured plenty of excitement, the Flyers flurried the net with shots and opportunities; however, an unfortunate goal by SMU's Scott Geppert that slid past UD keeper Gibbens in the 59th minute proved to be the difference in a 1-0 decision.

The Flyers out-shot the Mustangs 18-14 and also held a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. They also held SMU without a shot on goal in the first half. The 18 shots were the most by any SMU opponent all year. Of the five shots on goal, one hit the inside of the post and shot out in 70th minute and two others were saved by SMU goalie Matt Wideman with under nine minutes to play in the game.

If there is such a thing as a moral victory, the Flyers 1-0 loss to the No. 1 ranked team in America would be considered as such. The team did everything right, with the exception of one mistake which ultimately lead to their demise.

'They fought hard and believed in themselves,' UD Head Coach Dennis Currier said. '[SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman] congratulated us and said we had a good game plan that got them off their game.'

Before Sunday, SMU averaged 17.5 shots and eight shots on goal per outing while holding opponents to an average of 8.6 shots and three shots on goal. Furthermore, the team had more accomplishments when sophomore mid-fielder Ryan Hefley, freshman defenseman Ryan Handbury and junior forward Tyler Imbrogno were all named to the TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational all-tournament team.

After a successful West Coast swing, the Flyers return home to face cross town rival Wright State today at 8 p.m. The Flyers will put bragging rights on the line as well as a seven-game unbeaten streak against the Wright State Raiders. Coming into today's rivalry game, Wright State was tied for eighth in last week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America Great Lakes Region poll. UD was not ranked but hopes to be when the new poll is released Tuesday afternoon after they nearly knocked off the No. 1 team in the country.

The men's soccer team's current record is 7-4-1.

Hoping to add to the excitement of the match-up, AAA will be giving away four tickets to NASCAR's Ford Championship Weekend Nov. 18-19 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Furthering the NASCAR excitement, there will be Mark Martin's No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion car. An exact replica will be on hand for all fans to enjoy. The car will have a virtual NASCAR simulator from 4 to 8 p.m. today. A valid driver's license or a valid college ID is necessary to ride in the simulator.