BOCA RATON, Fla. - Marko Stajnko scored twice and the fifth-seeded Memphis Tigers earned a decisive 5-2 victory over the fourth-seeded Florida Atlantic Owls in the first round of the American Men’s Soccer Championship on Friday night.
 
With the win, Memphis improved to 8-4-5 on the season and will advance to play No. 1 Tulsa in the semifinals on Wednesday, November 11 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 
Memphis dominated the opening half, building a 3-0 lead before intermission. Stajnko opened the scoring in the 6th minute with his first goal of the season, assisted by Keanan Bader. Renan Syrio extended the lead in the 19th minute with his ninth goal of the year, off an assist from Miller Lashlee. Stajnko added his second of the match, and his second of the season, in the 37th minute on an assist from Saad Chaouki.
 
The Tigers kept pressing in the second half. Lashlee netted his fifth goal of the season unassisted in the 63rd minute to make it 4-0.
 
Florida Atlantic got on the board in the 65th minute when Jaiden Paniagua scored his first goal of the year, assisted by David Jesus. However, Memphis answered right back just 40 seconds later when Thomas Mancuso scored his first of the season off assists from Dino Stavros and Lashlee, pushing the lead to 5-1.
 
The Owls rounded out the scoring in the 73rd minute when Michel Tentchou notched his seventh goal of the season, assisted by Emil Lausten and Enzo Rabot, bringing the final score to 5-2.
 
Memphis goalkeeper Mathias Christensen earned the win with 2 saves, while Alfred Mikkelsen collected 3 saves for Florida Atlantic in the loss.
 
2026 American Conference Men's Soccer Championship Schedule
First round at campus sites
Semifinals and final at home site of the No. 1 seed Tulsa
(all times Central)
 
First Round - Friday, November 6
Game 1 - No. 3 Charlotte 4, No. 6 FIU 3 (OT) | Box Score
Game 2 - No. 5 Memphis 5, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 2
 
Semifinals - Wednesday, November 11
Game 3 – No. 3 Charlotte vs No. 2 Missouri State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 4 – No. 5 Memphis vs No. 1 Tulsa | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
 
Championship Final - Saturday, November 14
Game 5 - Championship | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+