Tigers Hang on to Beat UAB

Wednesday, October 11

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

9-4-0

UAB

5-5-2

UAB

Memphis

Sophomore forward Grant Wise provided the game-winner for the Tigers with his first goal of the season.

Oct 11, 2006 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 11, 2006

Box Score

Memphis vs. UAB Box Score in PDF Format
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MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The University of Memphis men's soccer team scored two first half goals and held on in the second half to defeat Conference USA rival UAB 3-2. With the win, the Tigers improve to 9-4-0 and 2-2-0 in conference play. The Blazers drop to 5-5-2 overall and 1-2-1 in C-USA.

The Tiger offense, ranked 13th in the nation in scoring offense coming into the contest at 2.17 goals per game, struck first. Freshman defender Rick Alleman and junior forward Jared Britcher worked two quick passes through the UAB defense to find an open Shaun Goulding. The sophomore forward drilled his fourth goal of the season into the top left corner of the net to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.

Memphis converted on another opportunity ten minutes later. Sophomore midfielder Tripp Harkins sent a free kick toward the net and found his classmate Robert Sausaman. The defender headed in his first goal of the season to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage going into halftime.

"I thought we put ourselves in a great postion at the end of the first half," Grant said. "Being up two-nil in a conference game is a good position to be in. We were in control going into the dressing room, but we knew that the game wasn't over."

UAB got back into the game in the second half with a pair of headers from senior forward Jerson Monteiro. Monteiro drove home a header through traffic for his first goal of the game in the 55th minute. Monteiro struck again 19 minutes later by knocking home a Derick Radcliffe corner kick with just over 15 minutes remaining.

However, with just over 11 minutes left, the Tigers went ahead for good. Britcher drove down the left side of the Blazer defense and sent a cross through traffic to sophomore forward Grant Wise. Wise faked the UAB keeper and drove home the game-winner in the 78th minute. The goal marked Wise's first of the season, and Britcher's second assist of the game.

The Tiger shut down the Blazers the rest of the way. Junior goalkeeper Tyler Strom recorded six saves and the Tiger defense forced 14 of 22 UAB shots off target.

"To be up two goals and let them get the game back to 2-2 was disappointing," Grant said, "But that's a quality that you have to admire in a team. We showed the character to get back down the pitch and get the game-winner."

The Tigers are now 2-0-0 in C-USA home games and are now 7-0-0 when scoring first.

Memphis will hit the road once again when they head to Miami to take on the Florida International Golden Panthers on Sunday at noon central time. The Tigers will then return to Memphis to wrap up their home schedule with matches against top-ranked SMU on Oct. 21 and Marshall on Oct. 25.

"It was great having the crowd here tonight," Grant said. "We need them to come on out the rest of the season, because these remaining conference home games will be vital to us."

Memphis Man of the Match

Grant Wise- The sophomore forward notched his first goal of the season at a crucial point in the game. His strike in the 78th minute gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead they would not give up the rest of the way.

"Every goal at this point in the season matters, and that could be a very important goal at the end of the year," Grant said. "Grant was in good position, and he was ready for his chance and took it when it came to him. I'm delighted for him."