CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | BOX SCORE
ORLANDO – No. 6 seed Memphis earned the program’s first American Athletic Conference Championship victory on Tuesday, using two second-half goals to defeat No. 3 seed USF in the first round by a 3-1 score.
The Tigers (8-6-4) advance to Thursday’s semifinals, where they will meet No. 2 seed SMU for a 4:30 p.m. start time at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex.
Memphis freshman Gurman Sangha recorded a goal and an assist, finding sophomore Chris Mikus for the game-winning goal. Freshman goalkeeper Parker Lackland made seven stops for the Tigers to pick up his fourth win of the season.
Alex Zis netted the lone goal for USF (7-8-2), with goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares turning aside two shots.
Memphis dominated the early going, seeing multiple close chances with three corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes. The Tigers’ second corner in the seventh minute resulted in a good chance on a header by Artur De Luca, but the ball was punched out by Devenish-Meares.
The Bulls rebounded midway through the period, and after several near misses broke through first in the 24
th minute. Adrian Billhardt footed a long ball from the right side near midfield and found the foot of Jonathan Rosales at the 18-yard line, who sent a one-touch past Lackland to a cutting Alex Zis, who finished the score.
The lead was short-lived, as Memphis took advantage of a penalty kick in the 38
th minute. Senior David Zalzman beat Devenish-Meares low, putting a shot into the bottom right corner of the net to send the game into half knotted at one.
A diving save by Devenish-Meares in the 56
th minute kept the score even, and the Bulls’ offense began to dial up the pressure soon after. Bull senior Tomasz Skublak nearly made something from nothing in the 71
st minute, cutting through the Memphis defense but Lackland was able to get a hand on the resulting shot.
It was the Tigers, though, who were able to take advantage of the perfect opportunity. On a counter in the 81
st minute, Sangha sent a centering cross from the left side of the pitch to Mikus, who snuck his shot to the right and out of reach of Devenish-Meares.
The insurance goal then came moments later in the 87
th minute, when Sangha caught the USF defense on its heels for the tap-in.
USF held the shot advantage on the game, 14-10, with both teams seeing five corner chances on the evening.
The Tigers will look to avenge a 3-0 shutout loss to SMU during the regular season. Thursday’s semifinals will be broadcast live on Facebook via the American Digital Network.