March 4, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - On Sunday, the Mid-South was blanketed with several inches of snow forcing this year's version of the Tim McCage Cup to be played in a different fashion then it's predecessors. The Memphis men's soccer team will take to the pitch on Thursday to play the opening game of the cup against Christian Brothers at 3:45 p.m., at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The Tigers are still in the process of rescheduling matches with Rhodes and Lambuth to decide who will possess the trophy that goes to the victor of the Tim McCage Cup (formerly known as the Memphis Cup).

"We are pleased to be able to reschedule one of our matches from Sunday," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "At this stage we are just happy to be able to get in a match before spring break. The lads are ready to play against somebody other than themselves."

The match against Christian Brothers will serve as Memphis' second exhibition test of the spring. The Tigers opened the spring with a face-off with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. This is the sixth season that the Memphis footballers have been able to measure themselves against an elite professional club. The Tigers have taken on FC Dallas (formerly the Dallas Burn) on five occasions and the Atlanta Silverbacks from the United State Soccer League once. Memphis lost the match, 5-1, but held the Hoops scoreless for over 40 minutes of the contest. FC Dallas put in two goals prior to halftime to help propel them past their Conference USA foes. Thursday's match will mark the second time in the calendar year that the Tigers and Bucs have battled in an exhibition scuffle. Memphis used four goals from four different players to launch them to a victory over their crosstown rivals.

This year's version of the Memphis Tigers looks dramatically different from the team that took on Christian Brothers on Aug. 16. Richie Grant's squad is looking to replace six seniors who played their final games as members of the Memphis club at the C-USA Tournament in November. However, the U of M does return nine players who saw substantial time in the starting line-up last season. Included in the bunch is leading goal and point scorer Parker Duncan, a freshman last season who tallied six goals and one assist in the final nine games of the season. Memphis also returns a group of five seniors, including defender Rick Alleman, goalkeeper Michael Goodlett and forward Brian Farrell.

Goodlett, a native of Bolton, Miss., posted four shutouts in goal for the Tigers last season. He will look to retain his job in goal this season despite pressure from last season's back-ups including freshman Cody Gibson, a native of Spring, Texas, who missed last season due to injury. Gibson started in goal against FC Dallas and was the netminder who held the Hoops scoreless for the first 40 minutes.

Christian Brothers is coming off of a 10-7-2 season last year.The Bucs return leading goal scorer Brenden Ross, a sophomore last season who hails from Toronto, Ontario. Ross led the attack for Coach Clint Browne's CBU squad, netting six goals. The Bucs also return leading assist-man Clark Bradord, a junior last season from Blackburn, England. Bradford has two goals and three assists for CBU.

CBU will have to replace goalkeeper Daniel Foster, who has played his final game for the Bucs. The leading candidate to replace him looks to be Daniel Johnson, a redshirt-freshman in 2008 from Lafayette, La. Johnson has a 1.05 goals against average in six games played for CBU last season. He also posted 16 saves.

The Tim McCage Cup (Memphis Cup) is entering its eight season as a staple during the spring exhibition season. Last season's matches were also postponed due to weather with the Tigers ending up as the crowned champions. Memphis also won the inaugural Memphis Cup in 2001, defeating Christian Brothers in the Championship game, 2-0. Since then Rhodes has one title to its name, Christian Brothers has won the Cup three times and Memphis has won it on three occasions, including last season.

The tournament is named in honor of Tim McCage, a former Memphis footballer who saw action during six games in 1990. McCage netted his only collegiate goal against Rhodes College in the Mayor's Cup in Memphis on September 20, 1990. McCage also had an assist against Southeast Missouri State on November 26, 1990. He died in an accident during the spring break following his freshman season for the Blue and Gray.

The Tigers will take on Bethel, the defending NAIA National Champions, in their third exhibition match of the spring on March 21, at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The match is slated to begin at 2 p.m.