Quarterfinal Rematch with USF Saturday

Memphis and USF will meet in a rematch of last season's American Athletic Conference quarterfinal when the Tigers and Bulls square off Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at USF's Corbett Stadium. USF (10-4-3) is hosting the quarterfinal match against No. 7 seed Memphis (3-9-4) after earning the No. 2 seed in the league tournament.

"USF is a very good team but we have already tied them this year and we beat them once last year," Memphis head coach Richard Mulrooney said. "It's definitely a game I feel confident going into. It is by no means an easy game but we should have the confidence that we can go in and find a result."

USF ended the Tigers season last year by beating them 4-2 in the quarterfinals, after Memphis had won 2-1 during the regular season.

This year the two teams played out a scoreless double overtime draw in the regular season at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Goalkeeper Jake Leeker was outstanding between the posts for Memphis, making six saves in the match. Of his six saves, none were bigger than the one he made deep into the second overtime period.

Junior Raul Gonzalez is the Tigers main offensive threat with seven goals scored this season. Gonzalez is also one of three players to have started all 16 games and is second on the team with 1,484 minutes played.

USF has played extremely well at home this season and has outscored opponents, 19-6, at Corbett Stadium. The Bulls have posted five shutouts at home and have allowed multiple goals in a game only once at Corbett Stadium.

The Bulls are led offensively by Nazeem Bartman, who was scored seven goals and dished out five assists. The team's other main goal threats are Melvin Becket and Lindo Mfeka. who have seven goals between them.

"We are very familiar with them. They play a great style and our guys seem to get up for this game. I think we have the blueprint of how to play against them but we have to make sure we don't allow them to overpower us and get an early goal like the quarterfinal last year. "

If Memphis beats USF and advances to the semifinals they will be right back in Tampa, Fla. at Corbett Stadium on Friday, November 13 for the semifinals. The Bulls are the hosts for the American semifinals and the final, which will be played Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Raul Gonzalez

Jake Leeker

University of Memphis Athletics