Tiger soccer head coach Richie Grant discovered last week thathe would be without Daniel Ronan and Matt Bryant when Memphisbegins play next season.
Grant said Ronan, a native of Blanchardstown, Ireland, left theteam due to homesickness.
Ronan is leaving after leading the Tigers in points, (25), goals(11) and game-winning goals (3).
Ronan was also a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman teamand was the first option of the high-octane Memphis offense thatranked eighth in the nation in scoring last season.
"After being here for a year, the homesickness was too much forDaniel to overcome," Grant said.
Bryant was a local product out of Ridgeway High School and wasconsidered by Grant as one of the most multi-talented andresourceful players on the squad.
Bryant is leaving due to personal reasons.
After two seasons at The University of Memphis, Bryant wouldhave been one of the corner stones of this year's team.
In his first year, Bryant led all freshmen in scoring , with 17points coming on six goals and assists, with five.
Bryant displayed his versatility last season as he rotatedbetween forward, midfielder and defender during the season.
"We will miss Matt and wish him the best," Grant said.
With the beginning of the season a couple of months away theTigers, who finished two games out of qualifying for the ConferenceTournament last year, are without an offensive leader and one oftheir craftiest athletes.
The loss of Ronan, a forward, will be the hardest to compensatefor, but Grant hopes incoming freshman Brad Whitsitt will be ableto contribute at the forward position. Whitsitt is from ChristianBrothers High School and will join other incoming freshmen --midfielder Harrison Kiser and goalkeeper Tyler Trew -- when Memphiskicks off its 2003 season against UNC-Wilmington in the 2003Memphis-Diadora Tournament at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
