Tigers Head to #9 Missouri State, Host Tulsa in Split Week

Wednesday, October 4

Springfield, Mo.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

Missouri State

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers Head to #9 Missouri State, Host Tulsa in Split Week

Oct 03, 2023 | Men's Soccer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tiger men's soccer team will look to get back into the win column this week when they take on two tough teams in Missouri State on Wednesday night and Tulsa on Sunday evening.

Memphis (4-3-2, 0-3 AAC) is coming off their third AAC loss of the season after they suffered the 1-0 loss to Florida Atlantic this past Friday night. The Owls would find the back of the net in the 86' off a corner kick. The Tigers would try to make a late comeback in the final minutes of the match, getting a shot from Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos in the 89' that went off the right woodwork.

For the season, Rodrigues dos Santos leads the team and AAC in total goals with seven while Colin Welsh has 20 saves recorded – the fifth most in the league.

Missouri State (5-0-2, 2-0 MVC) is coming off a 1-1 draw with Saint Louis this past Friday evening. After the Billikens took the lead in the 12', Michael Peck would put the Bears on the board 35' on a rebounded shot that found the back of the net.

This season for MSU, Jack Denton and Jesus Barea leads the team with two goals each while the team has outscored their opponents 9-2 in their seven matches. In goal, Harry Townsend has made 10 saves while boasting a 0.29 goals-against average.

"This is a high RPI game for us," said head men's soccer coach Richard Mulrooney. "David has done a great job with that program, and we need to find a consistency for the full 90 minutes in order to give us the best shot possible at a win."

The Tigers and Bears are no stranger to one another, meeting 12 times since the 1987 season. The last time the two teams met back in 2017, Memphis would come away with a 2-1 win after the Tigers netted goals in the 82' and 88' to take the victory.

Tulsa (4-3-2, 2-0 AAC) is coming off a 1-0 win over UAB where Yuki Sekiguchi netted the game-winning goal in the 8' off a deflected shot from the Blazers' goalkeeper.

Malik Henry-Scott currently leads the team with four goals while Sergio Baena has chipped in three goals and two assists this season. Alex Lopez, the AAC's Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, has been the Golden Hurricane's go-to between the pipes, making 19 saves while recording a 1.16 goals-against average.

"This match is an important one for us. We know where we are in the standings and everyone is playing for points so we have to come away on Sunday with a result," said Mulrooney.

Last season when Memphis and Tulsa met, the Tigers would come away with the 2-1 win in overtime in the First Round of the AAC Championship. Rodrigues dos Santos would net the game-winning goal in the 99' to send the Tigers to the semi-finals.

Wednesday's match in Springfield is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kick-off while Sunday's game in Memphis against Tulsa will start at 7 p.m. Both games can be viewed on ESPN+.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.