University of Memphis Athletics
FIU Downs Memphis in Overtime, 1-0
Oct 29, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 29, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 484-1263
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Judah Hernandez scored in the 93rd minute to give Florida International University a 1-0 overtime shutout over the University of Memphis men's soccer team on Friday night.
After shutting out the Golden Panthers for the first 90 minutes of regulation at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, the Tigers took the game into its fourth overtime in conference play. Memphis now has a 1-1-2 record in those four games. Seven of the eight Conference USA games the U of M has been a part of this year have been decided after the 88th minute of play. The Tigers have lost three games in the final minute of regulation including a 2-1 loss to No. 9 SMU.
"I'm pleased with the way we played tonight," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "The team had a great attitude and was playing to win the entire game. We have to find a way to come up with the win in this last minute situations. The competition of the conference is so close. FIU, like every one else in the league, is a very tough and competitive team."
With the loss the Tigers fall to 6-7-2 and 2-4-2 in league play. Memphis remains in the seventh spot in the conference with eight points. FIU improves to 7-4-2 and 3-1-2 and are tied for fifth with Kentucky.
Both teams attempted 14 shots in the first 90 minutes, and Memphis made 11 corner kicks to FIU's three. The Tigers began the season with 13 straight-games with at least one goal but have now been held scoreless in two-straight games. The last time the Tigers had back-to-back scoreless games in a season came in 1999.
The Tigers will play UCF (6-6-1, 1-4-1) at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Sunday at 1 p.m. A victory or tie would put Memphis in the C-USA Tournament that will be hosted by the league regular season champion SMU beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The Golden Knights have lost four straight including a 1-0 loss at UAB on Friday.
"It would have been nice to take care of business tonight," Grant said. "It's comes down to a game at home that we need to win and that's fine. At least it's in our own hands on Sunday."
Memphis will continue its alumni weekend on Saturday. The annual alumni game will be held at 3 p.m. at the South Campus practice field. Following the game, the annual Tommy Smith Banquet will be held in the Murphy Athletic Complex on South Campus. All alumni and friends of the program are invited to attend the free barbecue dinner. The annual Tommy Smith award will be given out at the banquet. The guest speaker for the event is former Tiger soccer play Philip McDonnell who played a combined eight years with Tommy Smith at Memphis and with Christian Brothers High School.
On Sunday the UCF game will be themed around Halloween. Fans can win prizes for guessing correct answers to Halloween trivia questions. Fans wearing a Halloween costume get in free to the game. The final home game of the season will aslo be senior day for the Tigers. Five seniors will be honored before the game for their accomplishments at Memphis.
