Oct. 11, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In the middle match of its three-game conference road trip, the Memphis Tigers will head to Miami to take on Florida International, Tuesday, in an effort to earn its first Conference USA win of 2010. The match will begin at 7 p.m. (EST).

After snapping their five-match slide by defeating Central Arkansas, the Tigers dropped the first match of their road swing to UCF, 3-0. Memphis had possibly its worst performance of 2010, making zero saves as a team and mustering just three shots on net.

In the seven games since scoring a season-high six goals against North Florida, Sept. 10, the Tigers have tallied just six more goals, losing six of those seven matches. With playmakers like junior Parker Duncan, sophomores JJ Greer, Andreas Guentner and Hugo Mondragon and freshmen Liam Collins, Austin Gross and BJ Williams on the roster, a consistent threat will need to emerge for the Tigers to battle back in the conference.

With SMU, UAB and a trip to South Carolina still to come, the Tigers will have to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.

On the Florida International side, a lack of scoring has made life difficult, but stellar netminding from senior Shane Lopez has kept the Panthers hovering around the .500 mark through 10 matches. Lopez has made 40 saves and sports a 1.12 goals against average to go with his 5-5-0 mark.

The Panthers real problems have come on the offensive end, where they have managed to muster only 11 goals through the season's first 10 matches. Sophomore Michael Muehseler (five goals) and freshman Nicolas Rodriguez (four goals) have accounted for most of the Panthers scoring in 2010.

Rodriguez has been particularly lethal late, with two golden goals and an 89th-minute game winner to his credit so far in 2010.

With half the season gone and conference play in full swing, the Tigers will need to come away from this match and the following Sunday's match at Kentucky with points to remain a contender for one of the six spots in the conference tournament field, which will be hosted in Memphis in 2010.

Van Dyck named top-100 freshman

Freshman defender Maxim Van Dyck, a native of Blankenberge, Belgium, was rated the 86th-best freshman in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com's panel of experts. The left-booted Van Dyck has started seven matches and played in all 10 for the Tigers so far, assisting on two goals and becoming the point man for free kicks and corners.

Memphis to host Conference USA Tournament

The University of Memphis is pleased to announce it has won the right to host the 2010 Conference USA Men's Soccer Tournament. The top six regular-season finishers will battle for the championship at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, Nov. 10-14.

Grant approaches career wins mark

Coach Richie Grant enters this match with 105 victories, five shy of tying predecessor Chris Bartels for most in men's soccer history.