University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Soccer Opens Preseason Camp Wednesday
Aug 12, 2014 | Men's Soccer
Redshirt junior Cody Uzcategui returns in goal for the Tigers in 2014. Last season, he made 48 saves and posted a 1.27 goals-against average.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis men’s soccer team opens preseason camp Wednesday with several new faces and some veterans with new roles. However, Tigers first-year head coach Richard Mulrooney is not calling the 2014 campaign a rebuilding season.
“There’s a lot of excitement for the season with the start of camp Wednesday,” said Mulrooney, who served as a Tigers assistant coach in 2013. “We have a solid core of returnees, all of whom had a great spring. I’m also excited about the new guys we have coming into the program.
“We have high expectations for ourselves. We don’t consider this a rebuilding season. We expect to do well in conference play and make a push for an NCAA Tournament berth. We are going to have a very competitive team, and that will go a long way in producing positive results this fall.”
To produce those positive results, Mulrooney and his staff have to replace 52 percent of the goals scored and 62 percent of the total points scored from last season’s squad. Included in those numbers are the Tigers’ three double-figure scorers from a season ago in Mark Sherrod (16 points), Shane Keely (12) and Liam Collins (12). Sherrod also was a two-time NSCAA All-America pick, and Collins earned All-American Athletic Conference postseason honors in 2013.
“We lost a lot from last season, and we’d love to have those seniors and their experience back,” said Mulrooney. “But, that’s not how it works.
“However, we have a great amount of confidence in our incoming freshman class. We’ll have our growing pains, but that’s why we have an entire season to get familiar with each other. I have a good feeling we’ll be ready when the conference tournament comes around. I’m looking forward to see how this season develops.”
Despite the losses to graduation, Mulrooney has several upperclassmen that he expects to take on leadership roles, including senior midfielder Chandler Gagnon and redshirt junior goalkeeper Cody Uzcategui. Gagnon has played in 53 career matches and made 48 starts, and Uzcategui posted a 1.27 goals-against average and made 48 saves in his 17 starts last season. The Tigers also return sophomore Raul Gonzalez, who was named to the 2013 American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.
“We are depending on Chandler and Cody to provide leadership, especially early in the season,” said Mulrooney. “Chandler is a returning senior, and he’s moving back to his natural position at defensive midfielder. Chandler’s been with our program for three seasons, and since we have a lot of new faces, we’re going to depend on him to lead on and off the field.
“Cody is going to have a big year in goal for us. He stepped up in a big way last season, and we feel he can take it further this year. He knows it’s more his team this season, and we are expecting him to play that way.”
The Tigers have a short preparation time before they play their first exhibition match in 2014. After opening preseason camp Wednesday (Aug. 13), Memphis has five days before it travels to Louisville, Ky., to face the Cardinals in a 6 p.m. (CT) exhibition match Aug. 18. The Tigers host their second exhibition match Aug. 23 against Christian Brothers at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Match time is 7 p.m. (CT).
Memphis opens regular-season action Aug. 29 with a non-league match against former conference rival UAB in Birmingham, Ala. Match time for the season opener is 7 p.m. (CT).
The Tigers host their home opener Sept. 3 against SIU-Edwardsville. On Sept. 6, Memphis hosts Saint Louis as part of its 2014 Alumni Weekend. During that weekend, the Tigers will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their 2004 Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships. Both matches – Sept. 3 and 6 – are slated for 7 p.m. (CT) kick-offs.
