On a frigid November night at Park Avenue Campus, the Memphis men's soccer season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion as they fell 4-3 to South Florida in a must-win game Sunday.
Thanks to Missouri St. pulling out a miracle 2-2 tie at Charlotte in a game they were down 2-0 with six minutes to go and Tulsa tying at FAU, Memphis had to win this game to finish in the top six of the American Conference standings and advance to postseason play in the conference tournament. They were not able to, and as a result, the season is over.
“Disappointment. We were past the days of not making our conference tournament or not making the NCAAs, and we didn’t do either one,” head coach Richard Mulrooney said after the game.
The first 10 minutes of the game captured the affair perfectly, as Memphis had five shots and four corner kicks and plenty of opportunities, including an Eben McIntyre shot in the second minute that bounced off the right post, while South Florida was playing on their heels.
In an instant, it turned. South Florida got their first attacking opportunity off a Brandon Nyagurungo breakaway and scored on their first chance of the night.
Memphis finished the game with 25 shots and eight corner kicks, compared to South Florida’s 15 shots and six corner kicks. Memphis had all the chances in the world, but South Florida was much more efficient and took advantage of what the Tigers defense gave them.
“I think that’s the most shots, the most dangerous we’ve been all year,” Mulrooney said about his team’s effort, but mentioned that giving up four goals to the Bulls may have been from his team pushing the issue tonight. “That’s a team that feasts off counterattacks and they punished us a couple times.”
Going into the half, the Tigers tied the game up at 1-1 off of a close range Eben McIntyre goal in the 39th minute, and were in good shape to pull off the necessary win.
Then South Florida scored two goals in rapid succession in the 67th and 69th minute, and with 20 minutes remaining, the Tigers found themselves needing three goals to continue playing this season.
But then, the chances started to finally connect for Memphis. Anthony Grudko ricocheted a shot off a South Florida defender’s head for a goal in the 79th minute, followed shortly after by a Saad Chaouki penalty kick in the 82nd minute.
Suddenly, Memphis was well on its way to pulling off a season-saving miracle.
McIntyre received a perfect cross from Chaouki in the 86th minute at point blank range. He shot it, with the season on the line. It was not meant to be.
Out of nowhere Jahiem Wickham saved the ball, and the game for the Bulls.
Desperate for a win and any goal possible to break the tie, Memphis pulled goalkeeper Philip Sabatti up in the final minute for an attack, leaving the defense vulnerable and causing the game-winning chip shot by Fabio Bozesan with just 42 seconds left in the game. The final nail in the coffin.
“I don’t really have a lot of words. Disappointed. But at the same time, if this effort would have been more consistent throughout this season, I don’t know if we’re in this situation in the last game,” Mulrooney said. “I don’t think my guys backed down by any means, but it’s a tough way to end the season.”
The Tigers finished the season 4-8-3, 3-5 in conference play, and eighth place in the league.
