Tigers Score Equalizer Against Temple, Finish With Draw

Saturday, October 6

Philadelphia, Pa.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

5-3-3

Temple

4-5-3

OT 3

OT 4

MEM

Temple

Photo by: Michael Wade

Tigers Score Equalizer Against Temple, Finish With Draw

Oct 06, 2018 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The men's soccer team travels to Philadelphia and guts out a 1-1 draw Saturday night.

After falling behind in the first half, Edgar Alaniz followed a shot from Bryant Huerta and put it in the back of the net.

The Tiger offense got out of the gates in a hurry, taking three shots in a 90-second span before 10 minutes had passed in the match, but none of them got past the Temple defense.

Memphis stayed aggressive throughout the first half, taking spurts of shots during the middle of the half.

The tide turned, however, when Temple got a pass into the box, which resulted in a one-touch around Tyler Hofmann. Hofmann finished the match with five saves.

Temple applied more pressure through the end of the first half, taking four more shots before the end of the period.

"I told the guys to just keep doing what they're doing. We got beat on a turnover, Temple, give them credit, they came down and countered and got the goal," Head coach Richard Mulrooney said of the first half. "Up to that point, I thought we were the better team, yet we found ourselves down 1-0."

The second half began very similarly to the first half, with Memphis putting pressure on the Temple defense and taking the first few shots of the half, but the Tigers were unable to find an answer for the first-half score.

Bryant Huerta took aim on a shot in the 60^th minute, bouncing it off of the post. Finding himself in the right position, Edgar Alaniz controlled the loose ball and punched it into the net, evening the score at one goal apiece. The score was Alaniz's second of the season.

"I think Edgar was in the right proximity, but at the same time, he has an engine that doesn't stop," Mulrooney added about Edgar Alaniz. "He saw where the rebound was coming off, and found himself in a good position to put it in the back of the net."

Both teams took shots throughout the rest of the second half, but neither team was able to take the lead as time wound down. Memphis had its best chance to take the lead in the final minutes of the half, taking two shots in the last three minutes of regulation.

Temple controlled the first overtime period, taking the only shots of the 10 minutes. The Memphis defense held, giving itself an opportunity in the second overtime.

The final overtime period was a 180-degree flip from the first, with possession of the ball being dominated by Memphis. The Tiger saw themselves with three corner kicks and three shots in the last piece of game time, bet were unable to produce a result.

Memphis will stay on the road for its next match, visiting Central Arkansas for a midweek matchup next Tuesday.