Oct. 11, 2002

Box Score

GREENVILLE, NC - Senior defender Chris Schmidt connected with a Dayton O'Brien corner kick in the 100th minute of action to score the game-winner, for his second goal of the season, lifting the Tigers past East Carolina, 2-1, in overtime Friday afternoon. The must-win match for Memphis (7-3-1, 2-3-0 C-USA) was the first conference road-win this season.

The Pirates provided the initial score, breaking a scoreless tie just before the intermission when Clyde Simms knocked home a goal inside the 18-yard box. Brian Deutsch and David Rowe were credited with the assists.

Memphis dominated the second half outshooting ECU 15-6 and owning a 4-0 corner kick advantage in the half. However, the league's most powerful offense was unable to net a score until the 74th minute when the Pirate defense cleared a ball to reserve center midfielder Ronnie Nillson 25 yards out. Nillson, who received his first action since the Lipscomb match due to a hamstring injury, settled the ball and blasted a shot past ECU keeper R.J. Marvinney to the back of the net to knot the score at one apiece. "Ronnie strikes a very good ball," expressed Grant. "That goal was big for us because we were dominating the match, but struggling to score."

Nillson's first goal as a Tiger sent the game into overtime, where the Tigers would eventually convert the game-winner. "This match was a must-win match for us and the players played like we had to win." Head Coach Richie Grant said.

Memphis will travel to Wilmington, NC to take on UNC-Wilmington on Sunday at Noon EST. The match will wrap up the Tigers' nine-match road trip. The U of M will return home on Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. when they host C-USA foe Louisville.