The Men's soccer team at The University of Memphis has neverprepared for a preseason match like the one they have waiting forthem tomorrow.
The Tigers will play the Dallas Burn of the MLS to kick offtheir spring competition.
It will be the first time in program history that the Tigerstake the field against a professional team.
The game will be held in Dallas at the University of Texas atDallas Soccer Complex.
"It's a big honor to play a top MLS team," said Memphis coachRichie Grant. "It gives us a real focus and purpose to our springtraining."
While Memphis is looking for a little more focus and purpose,the team knows Dallas has enough of it to spare.
In 2003, the Burn finished 12-9-7 and secured a four-seed in theMLS Playoffs.
The match will give the Tigers a chance to play a team with askill level higher than any NCAA opponent on the 2004 schedule.
Burn defender Cory Gibbs is one of the top players in thenation. Gibbs has seven caps with the U.S. National Team.
The Burn's Jason Kreis was the 1999 MLS Most Valuable Player.The three-time all-star is second all-time in the league in scoringwith 219 points and first all-time in the league in game-winninggoals with 27.
Altogether, the Tigers are going to be put against some of thetoughest talent in the country, and they're feeling theanticipation.
"We're looking forward to it," said Memphis forward AndyMetcalf. "It's a good challenge and a good measurement to see whatwe need to work on. We know they're pros, but we think it'll be agood match-up in the end."
Grant shared Metcalf's feelings.
"The homework we've done is really just checking their roster,"Grant said. "(I expect) that (they) are going to move to the nextlevel in terms of athleticism. We're expecting their standard to bevery high."
Grant said the game could provide some of his players with theirsights set on playing professionally after college with a taste ofthe next level.
"If it's their goal to play after college at this level, theymay as well go and see what it's going to be like," he said.
Metcalf, who said he might try to turn pro after college,sounded ready to test his skills against the Burn.
"Obviously it's going to be hard, but you have to have the samemindset against every opponent," Metcalf said. "Speaking formyself, I'm confident in my abilities, and I think we can do it asa team."
