Richie Grant isn’t surprised by the season his soccer team is having this year, but going into the season, no one else gave the Tigers much of a chance.
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Memphis (6-2-1, 1-2-0 in Conference USA) with the loss of all-time points leader Sean Fraser and All-Conference selections Lars Thorstensen, Justin Stralka and Stephen Lewis from last year’s squad.
Grant is in his fourth year as head coach and said that this year’s team, which has already equaled last season’s win total, is concentrating on earning a berth in the C-USA tournament at the end of the year.
“This team is a lot more focused on where they want to be at the end of the season,” Grant said. “It is of vital importance that this group gets to the conference tournament because that’s the experience you need.”
Memphis has looked impressive offensively in wins over Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt by scoring seven goals in the two games.
While Grant said that the Memphis defense is still lacking something, he is impressed by the offense, which is sixth in the nation in scoring.
“We constantly produce a program that is very attack minded and that scores goals,” he said. “If we can balance (offense and defense) then we will have a successful season.”
Freshman forward Daniel Ronan’s play is much of the reason that Memphis has had success in scoring.
Ronan is leading Memphis with eight goals on the season and seems to always be in the right place at the right time according to Grant.
“Daniel is a natural finisher,” Grant said. “He loves scoring and he puts himself in good positions to do so.”
After starting with a bang, Grant said the Tigers must work to duplicate the success they have had throughout the rest of the season.
“We’re exactly halfway through the season right now,” he said. “We’ve just got to constantly maintain the passion we’ve showed so far through the rest of the season.”
Memphis faces Depaul 2-5-2 (0-2-0) Saturday at 2 p.m. in Chicago.
Depaul has not had a great season so far, but Grant said the Tigers shouldn’t take them lightly.
“They’re always a tough team” he said. “They’re a young team, like us, and if we don’t perform well they’re very capable of beating us.”
