USF Tops @MemphisMSoccer

Saturday, November 8

Tampa, Fla.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

9-7-2 (3-4-1AAC)

USF (Quarterfinals)

10-7-1 (4-3-1AAC)

Memphis

USF

Nov 08, 2014 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Nov. 8, 2014

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) 

Box Score-PBP (PDF) 

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Memphis men's soccer team was hoping to continue their win streak like they had previously accomplished two weeks ago, but fell to the USF Bulls, 4-2, in the Quarterfinal game of the American Athletic Conference Tournament Saturday night.

"We came out a bit flat and a bit tentative knowing it was the Quarterfinals," said head coach Richard Mulrooney. "To USF's credit, they came out pretty sharp. You could see we were starting to bend a little bit. Obviously with their first goal it sort of changes things up. It pretty much took us most of the first half to get a flow of the game and by that time it was already 2-0 and the first half ended. With that, knowing there was still a chance, we changed some things up and an attacking formation that gave a chance to get back in the game. As we know, USF is a quality team and they are dangerous going forward. But I'm proud of the boys for fighting back. At that point I think the guys saw the wall of this could be it and we didn't get dirty or chippy from it, but rather just put our heads down and worked hard. We were able to get a couple more goals out of it. At the end of the day, unfortunately USF was the better team and they deserve to go through."

Memphis came out as the aggressors as Raul Gonzalez was able to get a shot on goal within the first minute of play. However, it was saved by Bulls keeper, Spasoje Stefanovic.

USF took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute when Marcus Epps passed the ball to Eduardo Maceira who took a shot from 10 yards out to hit the upper right corner, scoring his first goal of the season.

The Blue and Gray had a few more opportunities to score in the first half but couldn't seem to capitalize on them and trailed the Bulls going into intermission.

The Bulls came out attacking in the second half with an early goal by Maceira from a header off the cross. Wesley Charpie and Edwin Moalosi were credited with the assists.

Less than 10 minutes later, USF struck again. Moalosi took a shot on goal from 15 yards out, netting his fifth goal of the season. Charpie and Lindo Mfeka were given the assists on the play.

The Tigers created a few chances of their own as Fakhry Khulfan shot a goal on target, but again it was saved by the Bulls keeper.

USF kept driving at Memphis as Epps was on a breakaway after he received a pass from Moalosi and shot the ball into the lower left corner of the net, giving the Bulls a 4-0 lead.

However, the UofM refused to get shut out. In the 68th minute, Wil Linder crossed the ball to the middle of the box where Gonzalez took a one touch shot from 15 yards out to give the Tigers their first goal of the evening. The goal was Gonzalez's third of the season.

The Tigers kept fighting as Wil Linder took a penalty kick in the 84th minute and earned the Blue and Gray their second goal of the night and netted his second goal of the season.

Nevertheless, it was the Bulls who walked away with a 4-2 victory and will now face the UConn Huskies on Nov. 14, in the semifinals in Storrs, Conn.

Memphis keeper Jake Leeker earned 30 minutes of playing time and recorded two saves on the match.

"It's a game that we obviously want to say we'll learn from but it's not learning from a game going into next week," said Mulrooney. "It's a game that we will learn from going into next season. We got a lot of guys minutes and some underclassmen that will take this into next season knowing the speed that we need to get to and the level we need to play at. We got a little better this year and next year we are expecting to do the same. It's going to be a work in progress, but that doesn't take away from what this team achieved this year. I had a great group of seniors to work with and I'm sad to see them move on. To know that they left it all on the field and have no regrets is what we can take away from tonight and that's what I'm proud of. They shouldn't have anything to feel bad about whatsoever."

For more information about Tiger Athletics visit GoTigersGo.com and 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.