No. 25 Memphis Defeats Air Force 3-1

Friday, September 15

USAF Academy, Colo.

8:00 PM

University of Memphis

6-1-0

Air Force Academy

0-5-1

Memphis

Air Force

Sep 15, 2006 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 15, 2006

Box Score

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Colorado Springs, Colo.- Junior forward Jared Britcher and Senior Defender Jamie Gilbert scored one goal each, and junior midfielder Kevin Walsh provided some insurance as the No. 25 University of Memphis men's soccer team began their second road trip of the year by defeating Air Force 3-1 and picking up their fourth consecutive win.

Britcher, who was in his second game back after missing three games due to an illness, got things started for the Tigers late in the first half by picking up his third goal of the season. Sophomore Shaun Goulding drove down the left side and sent a cross toward the net and Britcher was there to give Memphis the 1-0 lead going into halftime. The goal gave Britcher his 25th and 26th career points.

"Jared was excellent for us tonight," head coach Richie Grant said. "It was a great cross from Shaun and Jared was there to stroke it home. Jared's scored some important goals for us this year, and Shaun did a great job tonight winning a lot of one-on-one battles. You can't say enough about the jobs they did."

Sophomore defender Jamie Gilbert added to the Memphis advantage early in the second half by taking control of the ball near midfield and driving past three Air Force defenders before driving home a shot from 18 yards out. Gilbert's second goal of the season gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead 50 minutes into the game.

"Jamie did a good job getting past their defense, going inside and outside, creating some space, and driving home that shot. It was a great goal," Grant said.

The Falcons responded six minutes later when Steve Noller picked up his first goal of the season, cutting the Tiger lead to 2-1.

The score remained the same for nearly thirty minutes before Walsh ended Air Force's hope for a comeback. The Shrule, Ireland native, whose 1.0 assists per game mark is tied for first in the nation, picked up his fourth goal of the year in the 85th minute by bending a free kick from the top of the box over the Air Force defense and into the net. In giving the Tigers' a 3-1 lead, Walsh stretched his scoring streak to four games.

"It was a very important goal, because Air Force was pressuring, and it really sealed the game for us," Grant said. "It was a wonderful strike. You have to credit him because he's been working hard on his free kicks and it was a great goal."

Freshman goalkeeper Michael Goodlett recorded his fourth straight win by stopping two of three shots on goal to preserve the 3-1 win.

The Tigers will return to action Sunday when they face the Denver Pioneers at Noon (CST).

"We've done our homework on Denver, we know they're a good team, and traditionally they have a good program" Grant said. "So I think it's going to be another tough game, but we'll just prepare as best we can starting tomorrow and try to keep this momentum going."

... And Counting

With Friday night's win, Richie Grant picked up his 75th win as head coach at the University of Memphis. The Dublin, Ireland native now needs two more wins to reach 130 in his career as a head coach.

"I'll feel a lot better if I get to 76," Grant said. "Those aren't things we concern ourselves with. All you're telling me is that I'm getting a little bit older."

On the Road Again

With Friday night's win over Air Force, the Tigers improve to 3-0-0 away from home, marking the first time in school history that a Memphis squad has won its first three road matches of the year.

The Tigers will try to tie the school record for consecutive road wins when they face Denver on Sunday.