Memphis Draws 2-2 with Central Arkansas

Tuesday, October 9

Conway, Ark.

2:00 PM

University of Memphis

5-3-4

Central Arkansas

5-4-2

OT 3

OT 4

Memphis

Central Arkansas

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Oct 09, 2018 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Tigers battle it out with the Bears, ultimately coming to a draw with Central Arkansas on Tuesday afternoon.

Goals from Alexander Ierides and Brantley Bice put the Tigers up 2-1 at half before a second half own goal kept the Bears alive.

Central Arkansas came out aggressive to start the match, taking a shot in the first ten minutes of the match. The Bears ended up taking three shots before the first 15 minutes were through.

The action went back and forth into the meat of the first half before the first goal of the match was scored. Central Arkansas crossed a ball into the box, which was finished past the Tiger defense.

Memphis responded immediately, driving the ball down the field in seconds. A cross from right to left by Edgar Alaniz was finished by Alexandros Ierides. The score was Ierides' first collegiate score.

Ten minutes after the equalizer, Ierides sent a pass across the pitch to Brantley Bice, who rocketed a shot from just inside the 18-yard box, and the ball found its way into the lower right side of the goal, giving Memphis a 2-1 lead going into the break. Bice was the second Tiger to find his first goal of the season.

"We had a slow start to the game, I felt, which hasn't happened very often with us this year," Head coach Richard Mulrooney said of the first half. "Our response was good, though. Obviously, getting the two goals and having the lead going into halftime was a huge positive."

After halftime, the Bears came out with energy, earning corner kicks and taking several shots throughout the beginning of the second half.

Driving down the field, Central Arkansas crossed a ball into the box. Diving for it, the ball snuck past the hands of the Memphis goalkeeper, and ricocheted off of a retreating defender into the net. The own goal tied the match again at 2-2.

Smelling blood in the water, the Bears increased their activity, pressing for more shots as the half progressed.

In the 71^st minute, a scrum in the box resulted in a hand ball called against Memphis after some initial confusion. The ensuing penalty kick, however, was stuffed by goalkeeper Parker Lackland, who subbed in at the half. Lackland, who had a season-high six saves, kept the Bears from taking the lead.

"It's a huge boost of energy. You're going through the anguish of having the call go against you," Mulrooney had to say of Parker Lackland's saved penalty kick. "For Parker to come up with that save, for the one second, you feel like you won the lottery."

By the end of regulation, Central Arkansas had taken 14 shots, compared to Memphis' four.

Despite the shot discrepancy, the teams went to overtime. The first overtime period saw two shots, both from Central Arkansas, but neither got past Lackland.

The second overtime saw similar results with both teams having opportunities, but neither team scoring a golden goal.

Memphis (5-3-3) returns home to reenter conference play on Friday, as the Tigers try to find a win against SMU. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.