Tigers fall to FIU, 2-0

Tuesday, October 12

Miami, Fla.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

3-8, 0-4

Florida International

6-5, 1-2

Memphis

FIU

Maxim Van Dyck led the Tigers with three shots

Oct 12, 2010 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 12, 2010

Final Stats

MIAMI, Fla. – The Memphis Tiger offense stalled again and allowed Florida International to escape with a 2-0 home victory, Tuesday night.

The Tigers had more of an attack going against the Panthers than they showed Saturday night against UCF, getting off 13 shots and putting nine on net.

"I was more pleased with our attack tonight," said head coach Richie Grant. "We still didn't come away with any points, but the effort was there the full 90 minutes."

FIU keeper Shane Lopez, who was C-USA defensive player of the week the week of Sept. 20, may be listed for the award again as he stopped all nine shots faced for his season’s sixth victory and fourth clean sheet.

"Lopez was fantastic in net," said Grant. "He turned away Cody McCoy and Jamal Keene on back-to-back shots right in front of the net."

After a scoreless first half, FIU’s Carlo Schmid broke the scoreless drought with a 59th-minute goal. Sebastian Frings lofted a cross into the box that deflected off Panther Nicolas Rodriguez to Schmid, who put it away.

A 90th-minute tally from Frings eliminated all hopes of earning a draw for the Tigers, who fall to 3-8-0 (0-4-0 in Conference USA) in 2010.

The two goals allowed to the Panthers help a team who had scored just 11 times in 10 previous matches, including just three in the last four matches.

After making no saves against UCF, sophomore keeper Jordan Leedle rebounded with a better performance against FIU, where he stopped four shots en route to his season’s sixth loss.

Making his first start in the past four matches, freshman defender Maxim Van Dyck led the Tiger with three shots. Redshirt frosh Mark Sherrod and true freshman Liam Collins each took two shots on goal for the Tigers.

"The freshmen have started to mature as a group," said Grant. "It's a hurdle we have to overcome with such a young squad, but they're looking a lot better. Now we just need to prepare for Kentucky."

The U of M soccer team will return to Memphis for a couple of days of training before heading to Lexington this weekend to take on the Kentucky Wildcats, Sunday, in a match that will begin at 2:30 p.m.