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Freshman Shannon Helps Lead Tigers to 4-3 Win over Oral Roberts
Aug. 31, 2008
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis won an offensive-laden game over Oral Roberts, 4-3, on Sunday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in the final game of the Memphis Diadora Tournament. Memphis moved to 1-1 on the season. Oral Roberts is now 0-2 after losing on Friday to UAB. "We are really pleased to get the win tonight," said Head Coach Richie Grant. "We made it a little close, but a win in our division is always difficult. We are pleased with the outcome. We are disappointed in the fact that we gave up three goals. We are pleased in getting four goals and a couple of those goals were off of set plays." The Memphis Tigers set the pace early on as they created many opportunities for themselves in the early going in Sunday night's contest vs. the Golden Eagles. In the 11th minute of the game freshman Thomas Shannon, a native of Broken Arrow, Okla., scored the first goal of his young career as a Tiger when he headed the ball past ORU goalkeeper Andrew Techanchuk. Shannon gathered the ball off of a corner kick from the right side from fellow freshman and Oklahoman, Jason Brooks. Memphis struck again not more than a minute later, when junior forward Brian Farrell brought in the ball from an assist by sophomore Ryan Ruble who had obtained the ball off of a cross by midfielder Jordan Lynn. Farrell put the ball past Techanchuk for his first goal of the season. ORU got on the board in the 36th minute of play in the first period. Taylor Cluff, a freshman from Plano, Texas, took the assist from Jordan Tatum and put the ball out of the reach of Memphis goalie Michael Goodlett. After 15 minutes of scoreless play coming out of the gate for the second half, Brooks and Shannon struck again, when Shannon headed in another Brooks corner kick past Tekanchuck to put the Tigers ahead 3-1. Nearly five minutes later Dale Calvert, a freshman from Indianapolis, Ind., struck the ball from the right side for a Tiger shot which was rebounded by Ruble, who put the ball into the net. Down, 4-1, the Oral Roberts' Golden Eagles mounted a comeback, scoring a goal in the 70th minute when Michael Lind rebounded a Carlos Pinto goal attempt in the box past Goodlett. Now down, 4-2, the Golden Eagles scored when Tatum took a double assist from Pinto and Chang to score the goal. The Golden Eagles would have several other opportunities, but the Tigers would come away with the 4-3 victory. Goodlett earned his first victory of the season, moving to 1-0, while Techanchuk received the loss, moving his record to 0-2. Shannon and Memphis defender Rick Alleman were the Tigers' two representatives on the All-Memphis Diadora Tournament Team. Shannon scored his first two career goals in the Blue and Gray on Sunday night. "It was a perfect birthday present for Thomas (Shannon) to score two goals today," Grant said. "His header was super today. He has put in two solid performances over the weekend. The lad has a bright future." Shannon commented on his and fellow freshmen's performance in Sunday night's contest "I think the younger players stepped up and played pretty well this weekend considering the situation," Shannon said. "My performance tonight could have been better defensively, but I can't complain much since I got two goals. I think I need to personally work harder. The team is beginning to get where we should be in order to win the conference championship. It is just going to take us building on what we learn. We need to keep this win streak alive, we have one right now." Bradley won the Memphis Diadora Tournament on Sunday with a victory over UAB on Sunday afternoon. Chris Cutshaw of Bradley was named the Memphis Diadora Tournament MVP after scoring three goals. The Tigers will travel to Burlington, Vt., next weekend for the Smith Barney/Nike Classic where they will face Vermont on Friday at 1 p.m., and New Hampshire on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
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Memphis Tigers
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