Nov. 9, 2007

Weekly Notes in PDF Format

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis men's soccer team will host Florida International University (3-12-2, 2-5-0 C-USA) for its final match of its regular season. The Tigers are 2-2-3 against Conference USA competition this year (9-4-4 overall) and will look to secure the fifth seed at the C-USA Championship next week.

Memphis and FIU have met twice since the Golden Panthers joined C-USA as affiliate members in 2005, and FIU owns a 2-0 record against Memphis. Both matches have been shutouts, the first by a one goal margin in 2005. The last meeting was on October 15 of last year. The Panthers' David Hope tagged Michael Goodlett for two scores to lead FIU to a 2-0 win.

FIU is under new leadership this year in former Golden Panther standout and three-time All-American Munga Eketebi, who has guided his team through a tough non-conference schedule to compliment the always-competitive C-USA and has his dangerous squad poised to make an impact in the C-USA Championship next week.

The Tigers enter Saturday's match coming off a tough road loss to UAB, only their fourth loss of the year and the first to a team that has not been ranked nationally this year.

Entering the final match of the season, Memphis measures up well against any C-USA competition. The Tigers are third in the league in almost every offensive category behind No. 5 SMU and No. 7 Tulsa and hold the league lead with six shutouts and a 0.89 goals against average.

Memphis has secured a spot in the C-USA Championship and, with a win tomorrow, its first-round opponent. Should the current standings remain unchanged through next week, Memphis would enter the tournament with the No. 5 seed and play fourth seeded South Carolina on Wednesday. It is possible for the Tigers to jump South Carolina in the league standings with a Gamecock loss tonight and Tiger win tomorrow, which would swap the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, but not change the first-round match-up.

Marshall, FIU and UAB all are within striking distance of the Tigers, trailing by three points in the league standings. Should the stars align just right, there remains the possibility of a four-way tie for the fifth seed, which Memphis would lose given the results of head-to-head match-ups.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow. The team will honor its four seniors--Jared Britcher, Adam Montgomery, Tyler Strom and Kevin Walsh--before the game as part of the Senior Night celebration.