Memphis Rally Falls Short Against Creighton

Saturday, October 7

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 PM

University of Memphis

8-4

Creighton

7-3-3

CREIGH~1

Memphis

Richie Grant and the Tigers will ressume conference play on Wednesday

Oct 07, 2006 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 7, 2006

Box Score

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.- Junior midfielder Kevin Walsh and sophomore forward Frank Judice scored for Memphis on Saturday and junior goalkeeper Tyler Strom made a save on a penalty kick to keep the Tigers in the game. However, the Memphis comeback came up short as Creighton scored three times to give the Tigers their second straight loss.

"You really have to give credit to Creighton. The better team won the game today," head coach Richie Grant said. "Obviously, we're disappointed on our end, but now we have to put this game behind us and get ready for UAB. At this stage we have to accept 6-2-0 as a good non-conference record, especially with the schedule we played. Now we have to get set to fight for all the points we can get in Conference USA."

Creighton jumped out to an early lead with two goals in the first five minutes. Jarod Tarver headed in a shot through traffic and Byron Dacy bent in s shot from the top of the box to give the Bluejays the 2-0 lead 4:42 into the first half.

The Tigers gained momentum when Walsh struck for the Tigers off a free kick from just outside the top of the box to cut the Creighton lead in half with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Bluejays struck back after halftime when Dacy notched his second goal of the game off an assist from Andrew Peterson to give Creighton a 3-1 advantage.

The Tigers were in danger of falling even farther behind after Walsh picked up his second yellow card late in the second half in front of the Memphis net. Walsh was sent off and the Tigers played shorthanded the rest of the way. Fortunately for Memphis Strom made a diving save on the ensuing penalty kick attempt by Michael Kraus to keep the Tigers in the game.

"A penalty save is as good as a goal sometimes," Grant said. "It gave us a little bit of a lift to comeback. It was difficult to play with ten men at that stage, but I think the lads really battled on after that."

The Tigers pulled to within one after Judice, a converted defender came in at forward and headed in the first goal of his career off a pass from freshman Wade Wonderlin at 87:50. Unfortunately for Memphis, Creighton shut down the Tiger attack the rest of the way.

"Even when we were down to ten men, we found ways to stay in the game," Grant said. "Frank's goal was terrific, but it just came too late."

The Tigers will try to regroup when they resume conference play against rival UAB on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.