Tigers Win Final Non-Conference Bout Over Lipscomb

Tuesday, October 23

Nashville, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

7-4-4

Lipscomb

6-9-0

Memphis

Lipscomb

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Oct 23, 2018 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Memphis men's soccer team finished its final non-conference match with a 2-0 shutout over Lipscomb Tuesday evening.

Alexandros Ierides had himself a night, contributing on both goals for the Tigers and giving them solid momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

The first half began as many matches have this season, with a Tiger getting a good look at a shot early in the match. Tonight, it was junior defender Ben Roberts taking the shot in the second minute, but it was saved by Lipscomb's goalkeeper.

Both sides made runs throughout the first 45 minutes, but the midfield was the area of battle for the majority of the first half. The Tigers did have a pair of corner kicks, but neither yielded a score.

Offensive opportunities came far and few between for both squads, as the teams combined for eight total shots, and only three on goal.

"I thought we had the better first half, but Lipscomb did a good job of bending without breaking," Head coach Richard Mulrooney commented. "To go into half 0-0 was probably fair."

Half number two started with four corner kicks in the first five minutes from Memphis. Though they amounted to nothing, they were a telling sign of the aggression the Tigers were going to display in the second half.

The scoring finally opened up on the fifth corner kick of the half for Memphis. In the 64^th minute, Ierides launched a corner kick into the box, and Roberts was able to finish it off, heading it past the keeper. The finish was Roberts' first of the season, and gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

After exchanging possession, Memphis took control in their defensive third. Playing the ball up, Ierides found himself room to dribble up the field. Taking his space, he eventually got himself into shooting range, and finished past Lipscomb's keeper into the lower right corner, finding his second goal of the season in the 71^st minute.

"Players have to step up, and tonight, Alex did," Mulrooney said. "He was dangerous all night, and he rewarded himself and the team with his effort."

The Lipscomb offense controlled possession for much of the rest of the night, searching for an answer to the Tigers. Strong defensive efforts from the back line and goalkeeper Parker Lackland shut down any and all attempts from the Bisons.

Lackland finished the night with just one save, but was instrumental in chasing down passes in the box and preventing Lipscomb from getting chances at all. His last two outings have produced back-to-back shutouts for the Tigers for the first time this season.

"I've got the luxury of having two keepers that I like a lot, and obviously, Parker's hot right now," Mulrooney said of his keeper. "It's a good problem to have, having multiple keepers, but Parker is playing really well right now."

Memphis will look to capitalize on consecutive victories as the team looks forward to Saturday. The Tigers will host UCF for Senior Day as the team enters the final week of conference play. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.