University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
-521 (010 CUSA)
South Carolina
-341 (100 CUSA)
Memphis Falls, 3-2, To Late South Carolina Rally
Sep 24, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2011
Memphis, Tenn.- Aided by a late game rally defending Conference USA Champion South Carolina defeated the Memphis Tigers 3-2 in their C-USA opener Saturday night at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Two goals scored Braeden Troyer and Chipper Root one minute apart late in the second half improved the Gamcocks' season record to 3-4-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play while the Tigers fell to 5-2-1 and 0-1.
The first half started off slow for both teams with but ended with the Tigers taking a 1-0 lead over the defending Conference USA Champs. Memphis took seven shots on goal with junior midfielder Andreas Guetner and freshman midfielder Will Linder leading the way with two. The Tiger defense held tough holding the Gamecocks to two shots total in the first, with Tiger goalkeeper Conor Hurly checking in with one save.
The Tigers would take the lead in the 34th minute when Liam Collins played the ball into the box and Mark Sherrod booted it in on right post for his first of two goals on the night. The goal was Sherrod's seventh on the season and Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead into the half.
In the second half, the Tigers struck quickly when Sherrod scored his second goal of the night. Collins passed to Jordan Johnson who crossed to it Sherrod, who headed it in for the goal. Sherrod's two goal performance brings his career total to 12 with the Tigers. The redshirt-sophomore is currently among the nation's leaders in goals scored on the season.
As the half progressed, the Gamecocks and Tigers locked in a back and forth battle as each side took 10 shots on goal. The Gamecocks got on the board in the 72nd minute when Mike Mangotic collected the ball in the box, taped it to Bradlee Baladez for the chip in, cutting the Gamecocks deficit to one.
The Gamecocks, with new life, kept the pressure on the Tigers. Late in the game the Gamcocks tied the game at 2-2 on an unassisted goal by Troyer, who beat Memphis goalkeeper Conor Hurley to the right post.
Then, one minute later the Gamecocks' Chipper Root collected a headed pass from Eric Marinez and scored. The two goals in one minute put the defending C-USA Champs up 3-2 and it was all they needed to finish off the Tigers. The win gives South Carolina an all-time series advantage over Memphis 2-5-2 in the nine-game history between the two teams.
The Tigers continue Conference USA play next Saturday at 6:00 P.M. CT in Huntington, West Virginia as they take on Marshall.
Team Stats
SHERROD, Mark (7)
Assisted By: COLLINS, Liam
4 played ball into box, 2 struck in on r
34:25
SHERROD, Mark (8)
Assisted By: COLLINS, Liam , JOHNSON, Jordan
4 to 11, 11 crossed it to 2, header 2 to
48:37
Bradlee Baladez (2)
Assisted By: Mike Mangotic
4 collected in box, tapped to 10, who ch
72:16
Braeden Troyer (3)
Assisted By: Bradlee Baladez
Collected passs from 10, shot far post.
84:50
Chipper Root (1)
Assisted By: Eric Martinez
Passed off header, beat keeper center of
85:50
