Early Deficit Too Much in 2-0 Loss at Tulsa

Friday, October 17

Tulsa, Okla.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

7-5-2, 1-3-1AAC

Tulsa

7-5-1, 3-2AAC

Memphis

Tulsa

Oct 17, 2014 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 17, 2014

Box Score

Memphis vs Tulsa Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - The University of Memphis men's soccer team fell to Tulsa 2-0, in an American Athletic Conference match up Friday night at Hurricane Stadium.

With the loss, Memphis fell to 7-5-2 overall and 1-3-1 in league action. The Golden Hurricane improved to 7-5-1 overall and 3-2-0 in conference play.

"It was a really sluggish start on our end in the first half and Tulsa took advantage of that," said Head Coach Richard Mulrooney. "They were definitely the better team tonight and got the early goal on us, which is something that we never really recover from too well. Going into the second half, I thought the guys did better and I thought we were able to challenge them as well as get a little better handle on the ball. They were able to get a goal late in the game, but they were the better team tonight as hard as that is for me to say. They were the better team in general. Physically, they played better on the ball and it wasn't the best night for us. But the guys battled hard in the end and we could've maybe stepped away with a tie, but it just wasn't meant to be. We finished all of our chances the other night in the 3-0 win, and tonight we had a couple of opportunities that if we would've had second chances at, we would've done better. Unfortunately that's not how it happened and we took a 2-0 loss. I'm disappointed but at the same time I'm looking forward to getting back home for Wednesday's game and getting back in the winning column."

Tulsa struck first in the fourth minute of the first half with a goal by Geoffrey Dee. Ray Saari passed the ball to Dee and he shot the ball from the left side 20 yards out into the lower right corner of the net. The goal was Dee's first of the season.

The Tigers trailed the Golden Hurricane 1-0 going into the half, but Memphis came out strong in the second half creating multiple chances. The blue and gray had a chance to tie the game but a chance by Hayden Cochran was shot wide.

The Golden Hurricane's second goal came in the 88th minute. Kay Duit netted his first goal of the season when he received the ball from Neil Austin and with one touch shot the ball from five yards out on the left side into the net.

Tiger goalkeeper Cody Uzcategui recorded four saves for the match.

Memphis returns to action Wednesday night, Oct. 22, back home at Mike Rose Soccer Complex for an American Athletic Conference match against Cincinnati. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (CT).

Follow the Memphis soccer team on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @memphismsoccer and stay up-to-date on the latest news and receive live in-game updates at each and every match. 