University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Soccer Closes Preseason Schedule at Home with Lambuth
Aug 25, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 25, 2005
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Exhibition Reunites Grant with Former Team
University of Memphis men's soccer head coach Richie Grant will reunite with his former team Lambuth University in an exhibition match at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Friday at 7 p.m. Grant, who is in his seventh season at Memphis, began his head coaching career at Lambuth University in 1995. In four seasons at Lambuth (1995-99), Grant compiled a 53-29-2 record and won back-to-back Mid-South Conference Championships in 1997 and 1998. In his final season at Lambuth, Grant led the Eagles to the NAIA Region XI Championship.
"I'm delighted at the opportunity to meet up with Lambuth again," Grant said. "I have nothing but praise for the university. It is where I began my head coaching career, and I believe my success at Lambuth provided me with the opportunity to coach at Memphis."
The Lambuth match-up is the final exhibition game for the Tigers who begin their season at home against Centenary on Saturday, Sept. 3 in the seventh-annual Memphis-Diadora Tournament. Memphis is perfect through two exhibition games this season and has not lost at home since falling to Oral Roberts last year on Sept. 4, 2004. Since that time, the Tigers have gone 7-0 at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
Lambuth Head Coach Takes on Mentor
Lambuth University head coach Paul Conway will battle his former mentor and instructor, Memphis head coach Richie Grant. While Grant coached for Lambuth, he recruited Conway and brought him over from his native Ireland. Conway played for Grant at Lambuth from 1996-99, helping lead the Eagles to back-to-back Mid-South Conference Championships in 1997 and 1998 and the NAIA Region XI Championship in 1998. Conway then joined Grant at Memphis as an assistant for three seasons from 2000-2002 before taking the head coaching job at his alma mater in 2003.
Memphis vs. Lambuth
Memphis and Lambuth have never met during the regular season, but have met several times in preseason and spring competition. The last time the Tigers took on the Eagles came in the spring during the Tim McCage 7v7 Tournament hosted by Memphis. Lambuth beat Memphis 3-2 in the Tigers only loss in the tournament. The loss was only the second for Memphis in the spring with the other being against Major League Soccer's FC Dallas. The last full-team game against Lambuth took place in the spring of 2004 in the Memphis Cup. The Tigers beat the Eagles 7-0.
Scouting Lambuth
Competing in the NAIA affiliated Mid-South Conference,the Eagles finished 8-8 overall and 2-2 in league play to finish third in 2004. The team has a 133-108-8 all-time record and won the program's most season wins in 1997-98 with 15 under current Memphis head coach Richie Grant. Former University of Memphis assistant soccer coch Paul Conway serves as the Eagle's head coach. He is in his third year with Lambuth and has a 19-19 record.
Last Week - Tigers Earn a Pair of Shutouts in Exhibition Play
The Tigers began the 2005 season with a pair of 1-0 shutouts in exhibition matches against Christian Brothers University and Missouri State (SMS). At home against CBU on Saturday, August 20, senior Dayton O'Brien's corner kick goal gave Memphis its 1-0 victory. O'Brien bent one of his 10 corner kicks on the night into the net from the left side. The goal provided more than enough defense for the Tigers who after allowing only one shot in the first half held the Buccaneers to seven total shots in the game.
The Tigers then traveled to Springfield, Mo., where they shutout Missouri State 1-0 on Tuesday, August 23, on a goal headed by sophomore midfielder Jared Britcher. Britcher's goal came off a well-crafted play involving three other Tigers. In the 58th minute, sophomore defender Michael Coburn drove the ball in from behind the defense to senior forward Andy Metcalf. Metcalf back handled the ball, dishing it to freshman forward Tripp Harkins who kicked a perfect cross to Britcher. For the second-straight game, the Tiger Irish Defense held the opponent scoreless with sophomore goalkeepers Gavin McInerney and Tyler Strom teaming up for their second shutout.
Memphis In Top 30 Nationally to Begin Season
For the first time ever in the program's history, Memphis opens the season nationally ranked. The Tigers come in at No. 27 in College Soccer News Top 30 poll. The U of M is one of three Conference USA teams to be ranked by CSN with SMU ranked at No. 10 and Tulsa at No. 15. UAB, Kentucky and FIU also received votes in the preseason poll.
O'Brien Named to Hermann Trophy Watch List
Senior midfielder Dayton O'Brien was named among the 25 players selected to the 2005 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List. The list, announced by the Missouri Athletic Club, was compiled by a panel of coaches from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He is the first player from the University of Memphis to make the list. A list of 15 semifinalists for the award will be announced in early November, with the three finalists announced in December. The trio will be invited to St. Louis for a news conference and dinner held at the Missouri Athletic Club on Jan. 6, 2006, where the winner of the award will be revealed. The winner is determined through voting of NCAA Division I members of the NSCAA.
O'Brien Selected to CSN Preseason All-America First Team
Senior midfielder Dayton O'Brien was named to College Soccer News Preseason All-America First Team. O'Brien is the first Tiger player in the program's history to receive the preseason national honor. The selection comes after O'Brien became the first Tiger soccer player to earn All-America status after the 2004 season when he was named to the Second Team of both the CSN and NSCAA/adidas All-America teams. Joining O'Brien on the CSN All-America First Team is the C-USA preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Kentucky's goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum. C-USA preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year Leandro de Oliveira of UAB was a Second Team selection.
Tiger Irish Defense
When the Tigers open its 2005 season, the possibility is good for of an all-Irish defense. In its first two preseason games, all four Memphis starting defenders hail from Ireland. All-Conference senior Gary Connolly (Dundalk, Ireland) returns to stable the back while sophomore Michael Coburn (Dundalk, Ireland) is resumes his spot at right fullback. After playing primarily as a midfielder/forward during his junior season and in the spring, senior Cormac McArdle (Dundalk, Ireland) moves to left fullback to replace the departure of Mark Gourlay. Filling the hole left by the graduation of Justin Dyer, freshman Thomas Hyland (Dublin, Ireland) has settled into the center position.
Through the first two exhibition games, the Tiger Irish Defense has held opponents scoreless and limited them to a combined six shots on goal. The 2004 defense led Conference USA in virtually every defensive stat and the 2005 backside looks to continue the tradition. Another ingredient that could figure in the mix is sophomore goalkeeper Gavin McInerney who is also from Dublin, Ireland.
O'Brien Tabbed as Preseason C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Year
Senior forward Dayton O'Brien, the defending C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, and UAB's Leandro de Oliveira have been named the Preseason C-USA Co-Offensive Players of the Year. Kentucky senior goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was chosen as the Preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. O'Brien, a second team All-America selection, led the Tigers to their first C-USA Championship with eight goals on the season. He also enters the 2005 season holding the school record for career assists with 26. Senior forward Andy Metcalf also joins O'Brien on the C-USA Player's to watch list. Metcalf led the Tigers with 12 goals in 2004 and has compiled 27 goals and 7 assists in his career.
Tigers Picked Third in C-USA Preseason Poll
The defending Conference USA champion Tigers were selected to finish third in the conference by the league's coaches in the C-USA preseason poll. Under the guidance of 2004 C-USA Coach of the Year Richie Grant, Memphis won its first C-USA regular season and tournament championships in 2004, earning the program's second-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 16-4-1 record. No. 7 SMU, under the direction of 2004 NSCAA/adidas Midwest Region Coach of the Year Schellas Hyndman, was selected to win the conference championship. The Mustangs posted a 16-4-1 overall record last season as they advanced to their 11th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance, and 20th out of the last 21 years. SMU was ousted in the third round of the NCAA Tournament by No. 14 Tulsa, who was picked second in the coaches' vote. The Golden Hurricane returns 13 letterwinners from a team that finished the season ranked No. 8 nationally and lost to national champion Indiana in the NCAA Tournament.
Tigers Kick Off 2005 with Midnight Run
With a midnight run on Wednesday, Aug. 17, the Tigers kicked off its training for the 2005 season. Not much has changed from last year for the Tigers. Although the program is coming off its best season in school history, the team's approach remains the same.
"Last year we played with the purpose to prove that we are a really good team," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "It was a team that was highly motivated and achieved a taste of success as a result. Our players want to continue with those experiences. They want to advance the program to a higher level than where we currently are. We're well aware that there is a lot more for us to do."
After winning both the Conference USA regular and tournament championships in 2004, Memphis plans to build on its success with an experienced and talented team in a competitive realigned conference. In 2004, Grant took a team comprised of 14 freshmen and turned it into the 10th-most improved team in the nation from 2003. This year the Tigers again have a large freshman group with 10 signees joining the squad in the fall, but the team returns several sophomores with championship-playing experience and six upperclassmen with proven leadership abilities.
"The quality and maturity of the players will ultimately determine the success of the team," Grant said. "We have a great balance of experienced veteran players mixed in with young players that played last year and got to experience winning a conference tournament."
A Successful Spring
The Tigers had one of their most succesful springs, finishing 9-2-1. Seven of the nine wins were shutouts as Memphis outscored its opponents 29-13. Six of the allowed goals came in a 6-2 loss to Major League Soccer's FC Dallas. The Tigers won both the Memphis Cup and Tim McCage 7v7.
2005 Schedule
Three top 15 teams headline the 2005 fall schedule. The Tigers will face new Conference USA foes No. 14 University of Tulsa and No. 7 Southern Methodist University as well as travel to meet No. 12 Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. After entering the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in school history, Memphis hopes to make a repeat appearance with a stronger schedule. As the returning C-USA regular season and tournament champions, Memphis will face an entirely revamped conference schedule. Gone this year from C-USA are Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Saint Louis and South Florida. Taking their place to join Memphis, East Carolina and UAB are Tulsa, SMU, South Carolina, Kentucky, Marshall, Florida International and Central Florida. Five of the seven incoming schools competed in the NCAA Tournament last year.
Tigers in the NCAA Tournament
Memphis played its first NCAA Tournament game since 1993 at No. 30 Ohio State in the first round. It is the second appearance in the program's history. The Tiger lost to Indiana in the first round of their previous appearance, 6-0. The 1-0 loss to Ohio State was the first meeting between the two schools. The Buckeyes received an at-large bid after tying with Indiana for the Big Ten regular season title. OSU was knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament in the first round by Michigan. Ohio State made its third NCAA appearance in five years. They then went on to upset No. 5 Notre Dame in the second round.
