Sept. 26, 2015
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF sophomore Walker Dawkins and senior Hadji Barry scored to put the Knights up 2-0 early in the second half, but Memphis found the equalizer in the 66th minute. Neither team could come up with the game-winning marker and the conference-opening match ended in a 2-2 2OT draw Saturday at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
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"We worked hard to create chances and were able to capitalize on two of them to take the lead," head coach Bryan Cunningham said. "Memphis is a good side and its record against some tough competition is not indicative of how good a team it is. They out-worked us for a period of time in the second half and were able to tie the match up."
MAN OF THE MATCH
- Senior forward Hadji Barry posted a goal and an assist for the Knights.
- He set up the first marker for the Knights in the first half.
- Barry then capitalized on a counter-attack started by freshman C.J. Campbell.
- The Rochester, N.Y., native beat the defender and then the keeper on a hard low shot to the right corner to put UCF up 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
- It was his third goal on the road and his first assist of the season.
"Hadji has been diligent in practice and that work has paid off for him," Cunningham said. "It is great to see him rewarded tonight. He provided a beautiful cross to Walker [Dawkins] on the first goal, which was similar to what we have been working on in practice."
SCORING FIRST
- For the third-straight match, the Knights (3-3-1, 0-0-1 The American) opened the scoring.
- Barry crossed the ball from the left wing during the 20th minute across the box.
- Dawkins broke toward the back post and directed the pass into the open net.
DEJA VU
- Similar to the 2014 meeting, Memphis (0-5-2, 0-0-1 The American) registered consecutive goals in a span of five minutes.
- The first was a defensive breakdown in front of the net in the 61st minute, while the equalizer came on a cross and one-touch shot in the 66th minute.
- The Tigers scored twice at home in 2014 during the final 15 minutes and eventually won the contest in overtime, 3-2.
NEXT UP
- The Knights return to the UCF Soccer Complex on Tuesday against FIU at 7 p.m.
- The first 150 fans through the gates receive the Knightro September bobble head, while 50 additional ones will be given out at halftime.