Sept. 9, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Memphis/UMKC Match Notes

The Memphis men's soccer team will travel to Birmingham, Ala., this weekend for the second year in a row to compete in the UAB "Soccer For A Cure" Classic at West Campus Field. The Tigers will open competition with a 5 p.m., kickoff vs. the UMKC Kangaroos. Memphis enters Friday's match with a record of 1-0-1. The Kangaroos come into the battle with a mark of 0-2-0 after falling to No. 23 San Francisco and Missouri State during their opening week.

"It's a team (UMKC) that we have played before and they're coming off of a super season last year," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. " They're a great footballing side. They're very committed to getting the ball on the ground and trying to break down the opposition with good football. That is something we have had to prepare for and we've heard they've got a couple of very talented, very skilled players. We are looking forward to playing a team that likes to play the game the way it should be played."

Memphis is coming off of a solid opening weekend after picking up a draw against Bradley on Fox Soccer Channel on Friday and upending Western Illinois, 2-0, on Sunday to finish second in the Busey Bank Classic in Peoria, Ill. The Tigers were down 1-0 with four minutes remaining on Friday but used a goal from Parker Duncan in the 86th minute to silence the crowd and force the game into overtime. The game ended in a 1-1 tie after neither team could come away with the decisive goal in two overtimes.

The Tigers built off their momentum from Friday to pick up a win against Eastern Illinois on Sunday after picking up two goals from freshman Jon Wright. Wright is one of several Tiger newcomers who have played significant minutes so far this season. He is currently tied for the team lead in points with four along with Duncan, a sophomore, who has one goal and two assists so far this season. Duncan, a native of Johnson City, Tenn., led the team in goals and points in 2008.

In goal Michael Goodlett picked up his first shutout of the season on Sunday against Eastern Illinois. The senior netminder is 1-0-1 on the season with a 0.45 goals against average and five saves. Goodlett currently ranks third all-time with a 1.34 career goals against average.

The Tigers are currently getting more scoring opportunities on goal, leading their opponents eight to six in shots on goal in their first two games. Memphis is also leading their opponents with more corner kick opportunities 12 to 8.

UMKC, coached by Rick Benben who enters his 12th season at the helm in 2009, is led offensively by senior midfielder Bryan Perez. The Miami, Fla., native currently has the Kangaroo's two goals on the season. Perez finished the 2008 season with 10 goals and six assists on his way to a All-Summit League first team nod and NSCAA All-Midwest Region second team selection. Perez is currently tied for UMKC's shot lead with four. Tom Black, a freshman from Manchester, England, also has four shots this season.

Junior midfielder John Bayron Sosa, a , leads UMKC in assists with two. Goalkeeper Ken Cooper returns in 2009 as the goalkeeper for the Kangaroos. The product of St. Louis, Mo. Cooper has allowed seven goals this season and has tallied nine saves.

Memphis won the only meeting between the two programs in 2006. The Tigers defeated the Kangaroos, 6-2, during non-conference play. Memphis finished that season with a 10-8-0 mark.

Richie Grant's Tiger squad competed in the UAB "Soccer For A Cure" Classic last season, competing against UC-Irvine and Western Illinois. Memphis lost to UC-Irvine, 3-1, and Western Illinois, 1-0. The Anteaters of UC-Irvine advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2008 before falling to eventual semi-final participant St. John's, 3-2.

The tournament is done through UAB and in cohesion with the not for profit organization "Soccer For A Cure" which is set up to help families fight the battle against all types of cancer. During the tournament several players from each of the four competing teams visit cancer patients at the UAB Children's Hospital cancer ward.

"This is the second year that Mike (Getman) and I have partnered up on tournaments," Grant said. "I think it is a wonderful cause that he puts his tournament on for. Some of our players are going to get to go visit some of the kids on Saturday. It is always nice, it is close enough and we're both in the same league so we are very familiar with eachother's facilities. I think it is great that two weekends in a row we both get two good matches."

The Tigers will also face-off with No. 23 Drake on Sunday at 12 p.m. Drake is coming off a season in which they advanced to the NCAA Tournament before losing in the first round to Saint Louis. Drake returns 10 starters from their 2008 team including leading point scorer Garrett Webb, named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List for this season. Webb was a All-MVC first team selection in 2008. He is also a Preseason All-America selection according to College Soccer News.

Fans can follow all the action from the UAB "Soccer For A Cure" Classic by visiting the UAB website at uabsports.com. Both Tiger games can be followed using gametracker.