Wright Propels Memphis Past Eastern Illinois, 2-0

Sunday, September 6

Peoria, Ill.

1:00 PM

University of Memphis

1-0-1

Eastern Illinois

0-2-1

Eastern Illinois

Memphis

Freshman Jon Wright, a native of Tulsa, Okla., scored his first two career goals on Sunday

Sep 06, 2009 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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Sept. 6, 2009

Final Stats

PEORIA, Ill. - The Memphis Tigers used two goals from freshman Jon Wright to upend the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Sunday afternoon in the Tigers' second game of the Busey Bank Classic in Peoria, Ill. With the win, the Tigers improve to 1-0-1 on the season. Eastern Illinois falls to 0-2-1 with the loss. The Tigers finished second in the Busey Bank Classic with Sunday's win. The U of M and Bradley both had one win and a draw in the tournament, but Bradley won the title by having a larger goal differential.

Memphis and Eastern Illinois went into halftime at Shea Stadium on the campus of Bradley in a scoreless tie. Eastern Illinois had a 7 to 2 edge on the Tigers on shots, with two of those shots resulting in saves by Memphis goalkeeper Michael Goodlett.

The U of M got on the board in the 62nd minute when Wright blasted the ball low from the top of the box past Panther goalie Sean Molony. Memphis forwards Parker Duncan and J.J. Greer picked up assists on the goal, which was the first of Wright's career. The assist marked the first of the year for both players.

The Tigers lengthened their lead to 2-0 when Wright caught Molony out of position and played a floater across the right post for his second goal of the game and of his career. Duncan picked up his second assist on the game. Duncan, the Tigers' leading goal and point scorer in 2008, now has four points on the season after his two assists against Eastern Illinois. The native of Johnson City, Tenn., scored the game-tying goal on Friday night against Bradley, the seventh goal of the young sophomore's career.

Wright's two goals were the Tigers only two shots on goal. Memphis defender Elias Groft and Greer, a freshman from Cordova, Tenn., took the Tigers two other shots on the game. Eastern Illinois finished with a total of 13 shots compared to Memphis' four. The Panthers had three shots on goal compared to Memphis' two. Eastern Illinois forward Alex Harrison and freshman midfielder Jerry Maddi tied for the team lead with three shots.

Goodlett picks up the win for the Tigers in goal. The senior from Bolton, Miss., is now 1-0-1 on the young season. Sunday night's clean slate marks the first shutout of the year for the netminder. Goodlett had four shutouts in 2008. He has only given up one goal in the Tigers' first two games. Goodlett finished with three saves on the game.

Molony takes the loss for the Panthers. The junior transfer from Fort Lewis College falls to 0-2-1 on the year. Molony finished the contest with no saves and two goals allowed.

The Tigers got quality minutes from four freshmen. Justin Watson, Jordan Johnson and Greer all started their second-straight games from Richie Grant's squad, while Wright responded off the bench with two goals.

Wright, Duncan and Memphis centerback Rick Alleman earned nods on the Busey Bank Classic All-Tournament team. Wright, a native of Tulsa, Okla., had two goals and four points on the tournament. Duncan had one goal and two assists for four points. Alleman helped lead a Tiger defense that only surrendered one goal in two games.

Memphis will next hit the pitch on Fri., Sept. 11 against UMKC in the opening game of the UAB "Soccer for a Cure" Classic. The Tigers will also face-off with No. 21 Drake in the UAB tournament.