Feb. 24, 2005
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
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Ask University of Memphis men's soccer head coach Richie Grant about the importance of spring workouts and he will quickly tell you all of last year's success began in the spring. The Tigers hope to build on to that success again this spring after completing a season like none other.
Memphis completed arguably its best season ever in 2004 winning both the Conference USA regular season and tournament championship titles. The team finished 16-4-1 and entered its second ever NCAA tournament ranked 10th in the nation. The Tigers boasted seven conference players of the week selections, and six players were named to national teams of the week. Eight players were named to All-Conference USA Teams, including the conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, junior forward Dayton O'Brien and senior goalkeeper Sebastian Vecchio. O'Brien also became the first Tiger soccer player to be named an All-American. Head coach Richie Grant, who led his squad to the most season wins in Tiger history, was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.
For the spring, The Tigers return seven starters and 14 total letterwinners from last year. Memphis will miss the presence of seniors Daniel Dobson, Justin Dyer, John Reilly and Vecchio, but a new group of seniors are ready and capable of taking the reigns in 2005. This year's senior group includes the power packed scoring duo of O'Brien and Andy Metcalf, who will lead the forward position, as well as fellow three-year letterwinning defender Gary Connolly. Transfers Cormac McArdle and Stephen Cooling also will provide senior leadership on the team.
The defense once again looks to be a strong area for Memphis after the team led Conference USA in nearly every defensive category in 2004. Along with Connolly, returning for the Tigers are sophomores Michael Coburn and Top Drawer All-Freshman National Team selection Mark Gourlay.
C-USA All-Freshman Team selection Adam Montgomery will be counted on to control the center in the midfield position. Also seeing significant time in at midfield last year were McArdle, Cooling and O'Brien.
The Tigers will look to two untested goalies after the loss of C-USA Defender of the Year Sebastian Vecchio. Both Tyler Strom and Gavin McInerney saw limited time at the position last year. Strom started two of three games he played in 2004, allowing three goals in 239 minutes of work. McInerney split time in four games and has yet to allow a goal in 130 minutes of play.
Memphis began its spring schedule in Texas with an exhibition game against Major League Soccer's FC DallasIt is the second year in a row the Tigers met up with FC Dallas, formerly known as the Dallas Burn.
The Memphis spring soccer schedule will run through May. After returning from Dallas, the Tigers will play in the annual Memphis Cup against Rhodes College and Christian Brothers University on Saturday, Feb. 26. Additional spring games scheduled includes a fifth-annual home match-up at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex against Colaiste Ide. Grant and current Tiger players Cormac McArdle, Gavin McInerney, Gary Connolly and Michael Coburn are all former players of the team out of Ireland. A tournament with UAB and Furman is also scheduled along with a Holland/Belgium tour in May.
"Once again we have a strong spring schedule that we will use to prepare for the demands of Conference USA next season," Grant said. "It is very important for us to continue with a strong selection of games."
