University of Memphis Athletics
Men's Soccer Kicks Off Season of High Expectations, Wednesday
Aug 30, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 30, 2010
Cover it Live vs. Belmont
Gametracker vs. Belmont
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Six years removed from the 2004 season and its last Conference USA championship, the Memphis Tigers are making strides towards those heights once more in 2010. The season kicks off September 1, with the Tigers hosting Belmont at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Oral Roberts also visits Memphis in the season's first week, taking on the Tigers, Friday. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.
On the heels of a 7-7-2 2009 season, the Memphis men's soccer team will feature a host of fresh faces in 2010. Eleven newcomers litter the Tigers 24-man roster, including nine true freshmen expected to see a significant amount of playing time during their first year.
"We got to use everybody more during camp this year," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "Many of the players we can use interchangeably this year, so we're trying to find where everybody fits the best."
The most important questions surrounding the Tigers roster center around the defense, beginning in goal. Following the graduation of Michael Goodlett, who finished his career with the third-best goals against average in school history, the Tigers are counting on two very inexperienced keepers to hold down the fort in 2010.
Redshirt sophomore Jordan Leedle is in his third year in the Memphis program, but has seen only 90 minutes of action for the Tigers. He had a strong spring, including being named the `Man of the Match' in the Tigers spring battle with UAB, and has staked his claim to being the number one net minder for the U of M in 2010.
His competition for the spot is freshman Martin Hunter, an English transplant who hails from Newcastle. Hunter split time with Leedle during fall camp and will continue to see action into the season. Both keepers will get every opportunity to win the job, with the competition expected to continue into the season.
"Both keepers split time and built a good relationship with the back four," said Grant. "We have some healthy competition at that position heading into the season."
Whichever keeper is in goal will benefit from the steady, experienced play of center backs Thomas Shannon and Rory O'Connor. O'Connor, one of two seniors for the Tigers, will wear the captain's armband in 2010 and is one of the unquestioned leaders of the squad.
Meanwhile, the Mohawk-coiffed Shannon provides steady play in the back and a booming leg on penalty kicks. The junior scored the Tigers final three goals in 2009 on penalty kicks and added another goal off a corner kick during the Tigers match against Brazilian club team Botafogo in preseason.
Out wide on the backline, the Tigers will use some youthful energy from some of their talented freshmen. Maxim Van Dyck, of Belgium, and Texan Will Garcia have seen significant time out wide during fall camp, with the left-footed Van Dyck showing particular efficiency on corners and free kicks for the Tigers in preseason.
Sophomores Jordan Johnson, Hugo Mondragon, Andreas Guentner and Chris Porter all saw time on the backline last season. Mondragon and Guentner will likely start in the midfield and slide back on occasion for the Tigers, while Johnson and Porter will battle the freshmen for starting spots on the backline.
"Rory and Thomas have developed a good partnership in the middle," said Grant. "Garcia and Jordan Johnson are battling for the starting spot at right back; Will has come in as a freshman and looks like a very good player."
The German-born Guentner and Mondragon each had two goals as midfielders in 2009 and should add to those totals this season. Junior Cody McCoy has started in the middle of the park the last two seasons and will continue to anchor the middle of the field in 2010.
The final midfield spot is still up for grabs with a host of Tigers vying for the chance to be in the starting 11. Freshmen such as Liam Collins and Austin Gross have shown flashes of brilliance during their brief time in Memphis, while more established front-liners such as Parker Duncan and JJ Greer may be moved to the midfield depending on the situation.
Sophomore transfer Dennis Kennetz Jr., a Cordova native who played at Gardner-Webb, will get a look later in 2010 after missing the entire preseason with a foot injury.
Senior Eric Trujillo, a former walk-on known to teammates as Rudy, will also get minutes in 2010.
"Andreas will miss the first match due to picking up a fifth yellow in the last match of last season," said Grant. "Cody and Liam will start in the middle of the park against Belmont. Gross, Trujillo and Greer have all looked good out wide during training."
The frontline seems to be the most dynamic and stable part of the Tiger attack heading in to 2010. Redshirt freshman Mark Sherrod, who missed 2009 due to injury, is back to the form that made him a 2008 ESPN the Magazine/RISE All-American as a high school senior. He scored against Christian Brothers in the 10th annual Tim McCage Cup game during the spring and added two goals during the Alumni game for the Tigers.
Duncan, a junior, and Greer, of the strong sophomore class, will vie for the spot opposite Sherrod. Gross and fellow freshmen Gordy Gurson and B.J. Williams, along with Martin Methodist transfer Tiago Reichert, will snap up any remaining minutes at forward, with all eager to showcase their skills for the Tiger faithful.
"It was disappointing not to have Tiago more in the preseason," said Grant. "He'll contribute early against Belmont. He, along with Parker, Sherrod and Greer will need to score goals for us."
Memphis to host Conference USA Tournament
The University of Memphis is pleased to announce it has won the right to host the 2010 Conference USA Men's Soccer Tournament. The top six regular-season finishers will battle for the championship at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, Nov. 10-14.
Grant approaches career wins mark
Coach Richie Grant enters the season with 102 victories, eight shy of tying predecessor Chris Bartels for most in men's soccer history.
Sherrod to make long-awaited debut
Redshirt freshman Mark Sherrod will at long last don the blue-and-gray in a sanctioned match for the Tigers. Sherrod joined the Tigers last season as a highly-touted recruit, but was forced to miss all of 2009 due to injury.
Young talent
Sixteen Tigers are in their first or second year in the program and many will be counted on to contribute in 2010. Among these are a superb 2009 freshman class that included JJ Greer, Hugo Mondragon, Andreas Guentner and Sherrod. Guentner and Greer were both named to the Conference USA all-freshman team in 2009.
Gametracker
If you can't make it to the game, you can still follow the Tigers. Every home game can be viewed on Gametracker. Just go to GoTigersGo.com, click on "Gametracker" on the side bar under men's soccer and follow the action from any computer.
Live Chat
If you can't make it to the game, follow the Tigers via Live Chat. Live chat will be provided at the Belmont and Oral Roberts matches and throughout the home schedule. A link to the Live Chat can be found by clicking on the schedule link on the men's soccer page and viewing the right hand column that is labeled "next event".
