Feb. 18, 2009

DALLAS, Texas - The Memphis men's soccer team had the chance to measure themselves against competitors from the highest level of soccer in the United States last weekend as they took to the pitch for the fifth time in the past six years to do battle with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.

"It was a really productive exercise for us," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "We learned a lot about our team in the scrimmage and we hope to build on it moving forward as we get ready for the Tim McCage Cup."

FC Dallas, coached by former SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman, went on to defeat Memphis, 5-1, with five goals after the 40 minute mark of the match. FC Dallas was led by two goals by Jeff Cunningham. Sean Bucknor tallied a goal in the 71st minute, while Dax McCarty put one in at the 81 minute mark and Jamie Watson in the 84th minute.

The Tigers had several opportunities to learn about their young squad in Saturday's scrimmage. The U of M started eight players who were freshman last season. Included in the bunch are two players who didn't see the field at all for Memphis last fall; Cody Gibson and Chris Porter.

"It was really encouraging for us to see what Cody could do in goal against FC Dallas," Grant said. "He really played a solid 40 minutes in goal for us."

Gibson, a freshman from Spring, Texas, started in goal for the Tigers, holding the opposition scoreless until the 43rd minute of the contest when Jeff Cunningham connected twice in a row to put the Hoops ahead 2-0 in the contest against the U of M.

Grant is also really impressed with the progress Porter, a defender from Flowood, Miss., has made after missing the entire 2008 season due to injury.

"It is very encouraging for us to see Chris continue to improve each and every week," Grant said. "He had a nice assist to set up Sean Goulding for our lone goal of the game."

Along with Gibson and Porter, the Tigers also saw encouraging signs from several other younger players who saw the field last year. Bradley Jacobs, a freshman midfielder from Franklin, Tenn., came on late in the fall for Grant's squad. Jacobs tallied two goals and two assists in the final five games of the season.

"Bradley started up front for us against FC Dallas," Grant said. "He continues to show improvement, while impressing us with his work rate."

The Tiger coaching staff was also looking to see signs of what the back of their defense will look like next season. Memphis is in the process of replacing two staples at center back; Michael Coburn and Thomas Hyland. Coburn, an All-C-USA first team selection last season, had started all but one game of the prior three seasons heading into his senior campaign. His teammate on the opposite side of the defense, Hyland, had also started nearly every game heading into his senior season. The duo had helped Memphis set a conference low mark in goals against average of 0.89 during their junior season. Hyland was honored as the team's recipient of the Tommy Smith award at the post-season banquet. The award is bestowed to the player who best exemplifies the character and class that Tommy Smith showed while he was a Memphis footballer from 1992-95.

The two players who get the first crack at replacing the Tigers' two-headed monster in the back are Thomas Shannon and Rory O'Connor. Shannon, a freshman last season who hails from Broken Arrow, Okla., showed signs early for the Tigers, scoring two goals in only his second game of collegiate soccer. O'Connor, a sophomore transfer from Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn., stepped up to fill the void at fullback several times when Coburn was moved forward to help ignite the Memphis offense. Both players earned starting experience for the team last season. Shannon spent time at midfielder and defender, while O'Connor spent time at several spots on defense.

"Thomas and Rory are really starting to develop at center back for us," Grant said."

Perhaps the freshman who had the most impressive fall for the Tigers was Parker Duncan, a forward from Johnson City, Tenn. Duncan's potential began to be seen for the Tigers starting with a Nationally televised match with No. 15 SMU on Oct. 15. It was Duncan's pressure and relentlessness that helped Memphis get back into a game where they were down at halftime, 1-0. The Tigers ended up coming back to upend the Mustangs, 2-1, in overtime on a Coburn header, solidifying the first defeat of SMU and of a ranked opponent since 2005. Duncan went on to score six goals in the remaining nine games. He also tallied one assist on the season, on his way to an C-USA All-Freshman team selection.

The Tigers will continue their spring with matches beginning with the Tim McCage Cup at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Sun., March 1. The U of M will open the day with a match-up against Lambuth at 10 a.m. Coach Grant was the coach for the Eagles for four seasons (1995-98) prior to taking the job at Memphis in 1999. The Tigers also boast O'Connor, who was an All-Tran-South defender for Lambuth as a freshman in 2007. The Eagles are coming off of a 14-5-1 record in 2008. Lambuth's season was ended in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament with a loss to Southern Nazarene.

Taking place later in the day on March 1, the Tigers will take on the winner of an earlier match between Rhodes and Christian Brothers. Memphis and Christian Brothers played an exhibition match prior to the 2008 fall season with the U of M coming away with the victory, 4-2. Christian Brothers. As for Rhodes, the Lynx finished their 2008 slate with a mark of 11-7-1.

Following the Tim McCage Cup, the Tigers will remain at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex for a battle with reigning NAIA National Champion Bethel on March 21.