Oct. 21, 2011

Game Notes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday evening to UAB, the Memphis Tigers must put it behind them for a match with the Kentucky Wildcats, as conference implications are on the line. Memphis enters the game looking to pick up its third conference win of the season, while Kentucky is looking for its second.

The Tigers, 8-4-1 (C-USA 2-3), are led offensively by sophomore Mark Sherrod, who garnered multiple, national recognitions this past week after posting consecutive hat tricks at Tulsa and against Nebraska-Omaha. Defensively, Memphis has posted five shutouts on the season, behind the heady play of defenders Thomas Shannon, J.J. Greer, Jordan Johnson and Chandler Gagnon. Goalkeeper Conor Hurley has been sensational in goal for Memphis, allowing only a single goal in the last 367-minutes of action.

Kentucky (8-8, C-USA 1-4) spent most of the season as one of the most prolific goal-scoring teams in the country. Despite losing five of their last six games, the Wildcats are a dangerous team behind the offensive fire-power of Tyler Riggs and Matt Lodge. Kentucky dropped its last outing to No. 10 Indiana, 2-0, on Wednesday.

Memphis currently stands in sixth place in the conference, with the top six teams making the C-USA tournament. The Wildcats are just three points behind the Tigers and are looking to pull even in the race.

Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT at Mike Rose Soccer Stadium. The game can be followed on GoTigersGo.com via live streaming, live chat and GameTracker.

Game Notes
Sherrod Garners National Recognition
•In response to back-to-back hat tricks against Tulsa and Nebraska-Omaha, Sherrod earned multiple honors for the week Oct. 10-16, 2011:
• Disney Soccer/NSCAA Player of the Week
• C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
• Soccer America Men's Player of the Week and Men's National Team of the Week
• SoccerSavings.com/Soccer News Net Men's College Player of the Week
• TopDrawerSoccer.com Men's College Team of the Week
• College Soccer News National Team of the Week

"On Your `Mark,' Get Set, GOOOOOAL!" - Mark Sherrod
• Recorded back-to-back hat tricks at Tulsa and against UNO.
• Has 30 points on the year, tying former Memphis-great Dayton O'Brien's 2004 total for the most since Sean Fraser's 30 in 2001.
• Leads the team with 14 goals on the season, the most since Fraser's 18 in 2001.
• Nationally-ranked (through 10-17-11) in several statistical categories: 2nd in goals scored (14) and 3rd in goals per game (1.17), total points (30) and points per game (2.50).
• In C-USA, Sherrod is currently ranked 1st in points, goals and game-winning goals and 2nd in points per game and goals per game.
• Ranked sixth in Top Drawer Soccer's C-USA Top 20 Player rankings.
• Tallied 17 goals in last 15 games, dating back to 2010 season.

The Tale of the Tigers
• Memphis is ranked 32nd in the initial RPI ranking, released Oct. 18th.
• The Tigers posted a 366:42-minute shutout streak, a streak that began during the Marshall contest and ended with the penalty-kick goal in the 90th minute at UAB.
• The three-game shutout streak was the longest since a six-game stretch in the 2004 season.
• The Tigers sport a .708 Won-Lost-Tied Percentage, good for 24th in the nation.
• Memphis is also ranked in scoring offense (11th) and total goals (19th) with 26.
• Memphis has recorded more goals, 26-14, than its opponents on the season.
• Memphis has taken 79 shots-on-goal, compared to 47 for its opponents.
• Averaging 15.0 shots per game (SPG) and allowing only 9.1 SPG.
• Hold an advantage in corner kicks, 64-40, over their opponents.

Memphis in C-USA
• As a team, Memphis ranks 1st in C-USA in shutouts and 2nd in points, goals, goals per game, assists and assist per game and 3rd in goals allowed.

The Tigers vs. The Wildcats
• All-time series record stands at 3-4-2 in favor of UK.
• The Tigers are 0-1-2 in the last three.
• Memphis lost won, 3-1, in 2007.

Scouting Kentucky
• UK comes to Memphis with an overall record of 8-8-0, and 1-4-0 in C-USA play.
• Tyler Riggs (10 goals, 5 assists) and Matt Lodge (7 goals, 10 assists) pace what was, at one point, the second best scoring team in the nation.
• Kentucky, 89th in the RPI, is winless on the road, 0-6-0.