UMKC tops Tigers, 2-1

Friday, September 24

Edwardsville, Ill.

5:30 PM

University of Memphis

2-4

UMKC

4-2-1

MEM

UMKC

Shannon's penalty kick was the lone tally for Memphis against the Kangaroos

Sep 24, 2010 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 24, 2010

Box Score

Final Stats

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Memphis men’s soccer team’s string of bad luck continued against the UMKC Kangaroos, this time at the SIU-Edwardsville Tournament, Friday. The Tigers fell to the Kangaroos on two goals from junior Jimmy Simon, who came off the bench for the Kangaroos.

“We had chances tonight,” said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. “We’ve had trouble scoring the last few matches and it continued tonight.”

Sophomore Andreas Guentner was carded in the third minute for the Tigers, beginning the match with negative undertones for Memphis. It was Guentner's first yellow card of 2010 after earning five as a freshman.

Score was deadlocked until late in the first half, when Simon took a pass from Jeffrey Stezovsky inside the box at the far right side and blasted a shot past freshman keeper Martin Hunter, who was making his second start for the Tigers.

The lead would stand up until halftime for UMKC, but early in the second half, “Mr. Automatic” struck for the Tigers. After a Stezovsky yellow card in the box allowed junior defender Thomas Shannon to take a 46th-minute penalty kick and put it past UMKC keeper Ken Cooper for his season’s third goal.

It was Shannon’s fifth penalty kick converted in a row, dating back to last season.

Shannon’s goal evened the match and allowed the Tigers to gain momentum. Hunter made two spectacular saves afterwards to keep Memphis in the match.

Unfortunately, Simon would strike again, this time on a soft dribbler from eight yards out. Stezovsky assisted again on the goal, marking his season’s fourth assist.

Simon earned his season’s fourth goal, giving him the team lead.

“It’s a disappointing loss, especially after tying it up,” said Grant. “We had some good chances and couldn’t capitalize.”

Hunter was hung with his season’s second loss, despite making six saves.

“Martin’s challenges weren’t that many, but he did well when he got them,” said Grant. “He’s getting more comfortable in the net for us.”

Sophomore David Sarabia, who earned in a hat trick in last season’s 3-1 UMKC victory over Memphis at the UAB “Soccer for a Cure” Classic, was held without a goal on four shots, two of which were on goal.

The Tigers fall to 2-4-0 on the season. Host SIU-Edwardsville awaits Sunday, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m.