Sept. 1, 2010

Live Chat Recap

Box Score

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Tiger men's soccer team couldn't have asked for a better start to the season, defeating the visiting Belmont Bruins, 4-0, at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

Sophomore keeper Jordan Leedle picked up his first career victory, in addition to his first career clean sheet, for the Tigers. Leedle stopped five shots from the Bruins.

Junior Parker Duncan picked up a goal and an assist in the season-opener.In the 15th minute, Duncan received the ball off a header from sophomore JJ Greer in the box and slammed it past Belmont keeper Juho Illi for the Tigers first goal of the season.

Sophomore Hugo Mondragon earned the second goal just minutes later, firing another close-range shot following a scrum for the ball after a Liam Collins corner kick in the 31st minute of action, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead into the break.

The Tigers peppered the Bruins goal all evening, firing off 16 shots and 10 on goal.

Freshmen Liam Collins and Austin Gross each scored goals in their collegiate debuts. Gross headed in a Duncan cross in the 76th minute to become the first Tiger to score in his Tiger debut since Kevin Walsh and Jamie Gilbert each scored after transferring to Memphis in 2006's opener against Louisville.

Not to be outdone, Collins slammed a 25-yard laser into the upper left corner in the 78th minute to round out the scoring for the U of M, who opened the season with a victory for the first time since defeating Louisville, 1-0, to kick off the 2007 season.

Greer, after earning all-CUSA freshman team honors as a forward in 2009, had two assists after making his first start at midfield for the blue and gray.

Memphis will host Oral Roberts, Friday, at 7 p.m. before traveling to UAB to compete in the 'Soccer for a Cure' Classic against North Florida and Charlotte.