One might expect The University of Memphis men's soccer team (7-3) to have a little trepidation about their Conference USA openers this weekend against Southern Methodist and 17th-ranked Tulsa after dropping their last three games. One might even expect the Tigers to be a little nervous opening C-USA play against the very two teams picked ahead of them in preseason polls.
After overcoming a 2-0 deficit and scoring three goals in the second half to defeat UAB for the conference championship in 2004, the Tigers has proven to expect the unexpected, and this year should be no different, said Richie Grant, Memphis' head coach.
"We are very confident," Grant said. "No matter what our record was, we knew this was going to be a big game."
The Tigers began the season right where they left off in 2004 with seven straight victories, including a close 4-3 win at home against No. 23 Oral Roberts.
In their last four games, however, the Tigers are winless, with losses to Creighton, Drake and Vanderbilt.
"We did some positive things against Vanderbilt," Grant said. "It has been a little humbling to lose some games. What made this team play well last year was good teamwork and going after that first goal and maybe losing a few reminded us of that."
Today at 7 p.m. The U of M will face Tulsa in what may be one of the toughest opponents this season to face, given the Tigers' recent three-game skid.
Tulsa was picked to win Conference USA ahead of SMU and Memphis in the preseason poll.
To add intrigue to the weekend, Tulsa edged out 15th-ranked Creighton 1-0. Creighton had previously handed the Tigers their first loss of the season defeating The U of M 3-1.
"We received some video and watched their game against Creighton," Grant said. "If we play good football, we will have a good chance to win. Tulsa is playing good football, though."
A big part of The U of M's attack against Tulsa this weekend will be energetic midfielder Adam Montgomery, who has three assists thus far in 2005.
"The team is feeling pretty confident," Montgomery said. "We are eager to win this game and we want to prove we can beat a good team like Tulsa."
While Memphis is recovering from their previous losses, winning in Conference USA is the Tigers' goal, Montgomery said.
"This is our first conference game and we really want to win our first conference game," Montgomery said. "We want to show the rest of the conference we are the team to beat."
Tulsa won't be the only tough opponent the Tigers will face this weekend.
Even though the Mustangs of SMU have struggled this season with a record of 2-4-2, they have faced some of the toughest competition in the country.
Three of the four losses suffered this season by the Mustangs have come against No. 16 Notre Dame, No. 1 Indiana and No. 2 New Mexico.
The defeats do not take away from the historic soccer program at SMU, according to Texas native and Tiger midfielder Grant Wise.
"SMU is a great team and always has a great crowd," Wise said. "Growing up I used to go to all the SMU games."
This Sunday the crowd at SMU may get a little more than they expect when the Mustangs host The U of M at Wescott field in Dallas, Texas.
"There are expectations, and with expectations come pressure," Montgomery said. "Last year no one expected anything from us. This year we are the team to beat."
