Collins' Overtime Golden Goal Lifts Memphis Past UCA 2-1

Tuesday, October 5

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

3-6-0

Central Arkansas

3-7-0

OT 2

Central Arkansas

Memphis

Collins' Overtime Golden Goal Lifts Memphis Past UCA 2-1

Oct 05, 2010 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 5, 2010

Final Stats

Box Score

By: Preston McClellan

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--Liam Collins' strike in the first overtime period lifted Memphis (3-6-0) past Central Arkansas 2-1 Tuesday night at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

In a hard-fought, physical game that featured 33 fouls and two yellow cards, the Tigers used solid back line defense coupled with a consistent offensive attack to push past the Bears (3-7-0).

Memphis found itself in an early deficit after the Bears' Joseph Cervantes connected from eight yards out. Cervantes received the ball from Connor Bowen and rifled it past Tiger keeper Jordan Leedle into the far post.

The Tigers would respond in the 37th minute on a strike from Cody McCoy. McCoy tracked down the ball after it deflected off a Bears' defender and hammered it through the back on the net to notch the score at one.

After recording no points in the first 38 matches of his collegiate career, McCoy has gotten points in the past two games, first with an assist against Tulsa and then his first career goal tonight against the Bears.

Neither team managed a shot for the remainder of the half, and the score remained even at one at halftime.

Memphis managed five second-half shots, but were unable to turn any of the attempts into scores. UCA's keeper, Greg Brooks, who came into the game for the injured Ivan Zarate, made three second-half saves to preserve the tie going into overtime.

In overtime, both teams pushed the ball in an effort to end the match. In the 98th minute, freshman BJ Williams received the ball in the box and fell. In the ensuing scrum, Williams pushed the ball in Collins direction, who slammed the ball into an essentially empty net to end the night in Memphis' favor.

Moments before, Leedle made his only save of his season's third win off a header by Cervantes, who was searching for his second goal of the match and came away empty.

The goal was Collins' second of his freshman campaign, and his first career game-winner.

Mark Sherrod, Andreas Guentner, and Austin Gross all recorded two shots in the victory for Memphis. Leedle recorded one save in goal. The Tigers managed six corner kicks compared to UCA's five.

This is the fifth consecutive 2-1 final in a contest involving the Tigers, but the first match in which the U of M was on the winning side.

Memphis resumes its Conference USA slate Saturday, Oct. 9 in Orlando, Fla. when they return to the pitch against the Knights of UCF. The Tigers are currently 0-2-0 in C-USA play.