Oct. 17, 2009
Final Stats
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
PDF Box Score Memphis/FIU 
The Memphis Tigers used a laser from 25 yards out by Andreas Guentner to upend the FIU Golden Panthers, 1-0, on Saturday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis. Guentner's strike helped Head Coach Richie Grant capture his 100th victory as the Tiger boss. The native of Dublin, Ireland, is in his 11th season at the helm in the Bluff City.
"100 wins is just a number," Grant said. "It has been a great 11 years. You think of all those players involved in those wins and losses and draws. It has been a special group of people over the past 11 years.
The Tigers improve to 5-4-2 with the victory. Memphis is now 2-3-0 in Conference USA play with Saturday's win. FIU falls to 4-8-0 on the season. The Golden Panthers remain winless in C-USA action.
More importantly (than the 100 victories), we picked up the three points tonight," Grant said. "It was a tremendous strike by Andreas (Guentner). A tremendous credit to him (Guentner) because he stays behind and practices and practices. Today he scored from his position at centerback. He broke out of the back, set it, had a great strike. That was enough to win the match. I thought we might get goal number two but I thought we did what we had to do to win and I thought the lads played good football."
Guentner's goal materialized in the 33rd minute when right midfielder Justin Watson gathered the ball on the right side and played it on to the middle where the Tiger centerback dribbled the ball in from 40 yards out before taking a strike from 25 yards out. The ball was out of the grasp of FIU netminder Phillip LaMarre. The goal was Guentner's second of the season. Watson recorded his first assist of the year with his setup play.
"They (FIU) opened like the Red Sea," Guentner said. "I thought it was like a gift. I tried to hit it and I was lucky, I hit it very well. I was very surprised I hit it that good. It was lucky for us, lucky for the team. I hope we go on a winning streak over the next few games."
Guentner's goal marks the ninth goal of the season by a Tiger freshman. Jon Wright leads the newcomers with three goals on the season, Guentner and Watson are close behind with two goals on the year. J.J. Greer leads the youthful Memphis squad with five assists on the season.
Memphis finished the first period with six shots. FIU had five shots in the opening frame. The Tigers went to the dressing room with a 1-0 lead over the Golden Panthers.
FIU forward Sebastian Frings, tied for second in the league in points coming into the night, put two shots on frame to begin the second half. Memphis netminder Michael Goodlett saved both attempts by Frings.
Memphis was led offensively by a host of players that recorded two shots. Guetner, Hugo Mondragon, Rick Alleman and Jon Wright all recorded shots on goal. The Tigers finished with 12 shots and four shots on goal. FIU had 10 shots and three shots on goal.
With the win, Grant becomes only the second coach in Memphis soccer history to reach the 100-win plateau. Chris Bartels, the program's winningest head coach with 110 victories, is the only other coach to reach the mark.
"I'm very proud of the team and of course Coach Grant," Guentner said. "I think he is doing a good job. He gave us the right attitude for the game. I'm proud and I am wishing him (Coach Grant) the best over the next few years."
Goodlett improves to 5-4-2 on the season with the win in goal. The Tiger senior had three saves and recorded his fourth shutout of the season for Memphis. Goodlett and the Memphis defense limited FIU to only three shots on goal.
Phillip LaMarre suffers the loss in goal for FIU. The FIU goalkeeper falls to 3-2-0 on the season. LaMarre had three saves and allowed the Tigers' only goal.
Memphis will return to the pitch on Wed., Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. (CST) against the Marshall Thundering Herd. Marshall came into the night in second place in the C-USA standings.
