Tiger men’s soccer team flexing defensive muscle
The University of Memphis football team wasn’t the only Tiger program battling a nationally ranked opponent last weekend.
While the Tiger football team nearly upset No. 11 UCLA in Pasadena, California, the University of Memphis men’s soccer team, in its first season under coach Richard Mulrooney, played host to 15th-ranked Saint Louis at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex and shocked the Billikens, 4- 0.
The loss was the first by more than one goal for the Billikens in three years and the win was the U of M’s first over a top 15 program since 2012.
“I thought we came out strong,” Mulrooney said. “With Saint Louis I don’t care if they are (ranked) 15, or 50 or 150, it’s Saint Louis and it’s always a tough game. They used to be a conference rival for us.”
At this weekend’s SMU Invitational in Dallas, the Tigers (2-1) will attempt to build on the momentum generated by the upset.
The U of M will open Friday night against Stony Brook and complete the Invitational with a Sunday game against Missouri State.
After opening the season with a loss at traditionally strong UAB, the Tigers recovered with a victory over SIU-Edwardsville before stunning Saint Louis.
The Tigers scored 11 minutes into the match against Saint Louis, a much-needed first strike toward the upset.
“We’ve started some games really slow,” Mulrooney said. “We drilled into the boys that we couldn’t afford to go down again. Saint Louis is a team that if you go down against them they are very organized and tough to break down. We are digging ourselves a ditch if we give up the first goal.”
After allowing three goals in the first half at UAB, the Tigers have allowed only one goal in the past five halves and two overtimes.
“Our defense finally is starting to come around, which puts a smile on our faces,” Mulrooney said.
TAKING MOMENTUM WITH THEM
The women’s golf team, after finishing second in this week’s Memphis Intercollegiate at Ridgeway Country Club, will participate in the Cardinal Cup on Monday and Tuesday in Louisville.
The event will be played at the newly renovated U of L Golf Club.
The Lady Tigers will be led by sophomore Leighann Cabush of Waukesha, Wisconsin. A member of the All-American Athletic Conference team last season, she finished fourth at the Memphis Intercollegiate with a 1-over-par 214. Teammate Ashley Kees, also on last year’s AAC team, shot 220.
The host Cardinals won last year’s inaugural AAC title and advanced to the NCAA East Regional.
ODDS AND ENDS
First-year women’s tennis coach Hayden Perez makes his debut Friday at the Country Club of Little Rock Invitational, the first of four fall events for the U of M. Sophomore Marta Morga, 24- 6 last year, is among four returnees for the Tigers, who went 14-9 last year and reached the second round of the AAC tournament. ... The men’s tennis team, which has appeared in three straight NCA A tournaments, opens its fall season next weekend at both the University of Illinois and Purdue University. Coach Paul Goebel will split the squad into two teams.