Oct. 13, 2002

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Sophomore reserve John Reilly scored twice and senior reserve Kirk Ricketts added a goal along with a pair of assists as the duo accounted for nine of the Tigers 10 points in the final 15 minutes of action to lead the University of Memphis to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory against UNC-Wilmington, Sunday afternoon at the UNCW Soccer Stadium. The win improves Memphis to 8-3-1 on the year and moves the team's non-conference unbeaten streak to seven games. Wilmington falls to 6-3-0 on the season.

The Seahawks took a 1-0 lead at the 23:59 mark when freshman Gary Stevenson's throw-in into the penalty area was taken by Coco Vaccaflores who settled the ball and beat U of M keeper Clark Talley for a shot just inside the left cross bar.

The Tigers outshot the Seahawks 11-3 in the first session, but struggled to score for the second straight match.

UNCW extended the lead in the 75th minute when Seahawk freshman Pat Althoff found forward Sam Leger on a crossing pass at the top of the box. Legler unleashed a 20-yard blast that found the back of the net for a 2-nil advantage.

The Tigers saw a repeat of the first half for much of the second as Memphis took a 12-5 shot advantage, but could not manage a score until Reilly and Ricketts connected for the first time on the day, closing the gap to 2-1 when Ricketts flipped a pass the Reilly for a shot at the top of the penalty box. Ricketts found the equalizer 1:31 later. U of M goalkeeper Clark Talley started a counter-attack by firing a pass to a streaking Reilly who beat the Seahawk defense down the middle of the pitch and fed a pass to the cutting Ricketts on the left side, who finished with his second score of the season.

Reilly and Ricketts then teamed up for the second time as Reilly knocked home the game-winner, his second goal of the afternoon, in the 85th minute to cap a furious three-goal rally by the Tigers.

Memphis returns to action with a Conference-USA tilt on Saturday, Oct. 19, hosting Louisville. Saturday's match will be the Tigers' first home game since Sept. 9, when they defeated Northeastern, 2-1, to capture the Memphis-Diadora Tournament title.