University of Memphis
-720, 010 CUSA
#11 South Carolina
-811, 100 CUSA
No. 15 Memphis Drops Heartbreaker to No. 11 South Carolina
Sep 24, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2006
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MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The No. 15 University of Memphis men's soccer team came back from down 1-0 early in the second half to force Sunday's match at No. 11 South Carolina into overtime, but Gamecock forward Ayo Akinsete scored 1:22 into the second overtime period to defeat Memphis 2-1 in the Conference-USA opener for both squads. The Tigers lost for the first time on the road this season and their five match winning streak came to an end.
"It just really reminds us what our conference games will be like the rest of the season. It will be extremely competitive," head coach Richie Grant said. "It also reminds us that we're capable of winning these games, because we were in it the whole way. So we just need to make the most of our next conference game now."
The first half was a defensive struggle as neither the Tigers nor the Gamecocks could find the net before halftime. Junior goalkeeper Tyler Strom played well for Memphis, stopping all five Gamecock shots on goal in the first half.
The start of the second half saw a flurry of action as South Carolina forward Mike Sambursky notched his fifth goal of the season by firing a shot into the top of the net in the 59th minute. However, Memphis countered just 22 seconds later as Kevin Walsh recorded his sixth goal of the year off an assist from Tripp Harkins.
"I thought it showed great quality to get back into the game so quickly," Grant said. "Give credit to Sambursky, it was a great strike, but we were able to respond right away. It was a great run from Shaun Goulding who played it wide to Tripp who fed it across the net for Kevin who put it away."
Memphis stayed on the attack in the second half, putting four more shots on goal. However, South Carolina goalkeeper Mike Gustavson made all the saves the rest of the way.
Twice this season (Aug. 25 at Louisville and Aug. 27 at Belmont) Memphis came from behind to win in the road on overtime. However, the Tiger comeback was unsuccessful this time as South Carolina scored the game-winner 1:22 into the second overtime.
The Tigers four match winning streak away from home, which tied a school record came to an end. It was Memphis' first overtime loss and first road loss of the year, but Richie Grant says he still likes what he saw about the Tigers late in the game.
"I thought our lads played with great character today, great heart," Grant said. "We certainly gave a good account of ourselves, but now we're looking forward to getting back home and trying to win the next conference game."
Team Stats
SAMBURSKY, Mike (5)
Assisted By: SMITH, David
25-yarder into upper right corner of net
59:34
WALSH, Kevin (6)
Assisted By: HARKINS, Tripp
header on right post
59:56
AKINSETE, Ayo (3)
Assisted By: SAMBURSKY, Mike
right to left from 12 yards out
101:22
