University of Memphis Athletics
Thursday, November 16
Memphis, Tenn.
7 p.m.
University of Memphis
vs
SIUE
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers Host No. 24 SIUE in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament
Nov 15, 2023 | Men's Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis men's soccer team will host its first-ever NCAA Tournament match in the Bluff City on Thursday evening when it plays host to 24th-ranked SIUE in the First Round match. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Track & Soccer Complex with coverage available on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased at THIS LINK.
"Just excited for the team. We worked really hard last year and got rewarded with a bid to the NCAA Tournament and the guys turned around and did it again this year and now get to host," head coach Richard Mulrooney said. "We're prepared. It shouldn't be anything new – just need to show up and put in an honest effort to try and get the result."
Memphis (10-5-2) is coming off an AAC Championship Semifinal appearance against the AAC Regular Season Champions, SMU. After the Tigers came back from down twice to South Florida in the Quarterfinal match, Memphis would face a tough challenge against the Mustangs. Three goals from SMU would prove the difference as the Tigers fell 3-0.
Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos, the AAC's Offensive Player of the Year, leads the team with 12 goals and five assists while Logan Longo and Alberto Cruz have added in three goals each. Hayden Anderson has been an offensive threat for the Tigers this season, picking up seven assists in his 17 appearances this year.
In goal, JD Gunn has been Memphis' go-to for the past eight matches, during which the Tigers have gone 6-2 with Gunn making 31 saves. The All-Conference Second Team selection is currently boasting a 1.43 goals-against average with a 0.740 save percentage.
SIUE (16-0-3) secured the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid after being crowned the inaugural OVC Champions. The Cougars are on a nine-game win streak – the best mark in NCAA men's soccer currently – while outscoring its opponents 44-10, ranking third in the NCAA.
The Tigers and Cougars met a season ago in Illinois where the team's played to a 1-1 draw. After SIUE took a 1-0 lead in the 12', Rodrigues dos Santos would nail a penalty kick in the 80' to tie the match. Colin Welsh made five saves during the 90 minutes while Memphis won the battle in corner kicks (12-5).
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.
"Just excited for the team. We worked really hard last year and got rewarded with a bid to the NCAA Tournament and the guys turned around and did it again this year and now get to host," head coach Richard Mulrooney said. "We're prepared. It shouldn't be anything new – just need to show up and put in an honest effort to try and get the result."
Memphis (10-5-2) is coming off an AAC Championship Semifinal appearance against the AAC Regular Season Champions, SMU. After the Tigers came back from down twice to South Florida in the Quarterfinal match, Memphis would face a tough challenge against the Mustangs. Three goals from SMU would prove the difference as the Tigers fell 3-0.
Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos, the AAC's Offensive Player of the Year, leads the team with 12 goals and five assists while Logan Longo and Alberto Cruz have added in three goals each. Hayden Anderson has been an offensive threat for the Tigers this season, picking up seven assists in his 17 appearances this year.
In goal, JD Gunn has been Memphis' go-to for the past eight matches, during which the Tigers have gone 6-2 with Gunn making 31 saves. The All-Conference Second Team selection is currently boasting a 1.43 goals-against average with a 0.740 save percentage.
SIUE (16-0-3) secured the Ohio Valley Conference's automatic bid after being crowned the inaugural OVC Champions. The Cougars are on a nine-game win streak – the best mark in NCAA men's soccer currently – while outscoring its opponents 44-10, ranking third in the NCAA.
The Tigers and Cougars met a season ago in Illinois where the team's played to a 1-1 draw. After SIUE took a 1-0 lead in the 12', Rodrigues dos Santos would nail a penalty kick in the 80' to tie the match. Colin Welsh made five saves during the 90 minutes while Memphis won the battle in corner kicks (12-5).
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.
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