The University News

Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Susan Fry Kyle Brewer (shown here at a previous game) scored the second goal for UMKC against Memphis.

The UMKC men's soccer team's tough start continued with consecutive road losses to Eastern Illinois University and Memphis University, leaving the team with a 0-5 record three games into a brutal five-game road trip.

Last Sunday at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, Ill., the Kangaroos were edged by the Panthers, 1-0. The following Saturday in Memphis, Tenn., they suffered their fifth loss of the season - a 6-2 setback at Memphis University.

EIU, 2-1 overall when they took on the Kangaroos, got their third victory of the season with sophomore forward Brad Peters' goal 11:03 into the match. Peters' tally proved to be the game winner as UMKC failed to score in the contest.

EIU outshot UMKC 18-12 on the afternoon. The Kangaroos had four shots on goal (SOG) and the Panthers recorded five for the game. Senior forward Kyle Perkins, still looking for his first score of 2006, had two SOG. Josh White, junior defender - along with sophomore goalkeeper Ricardo Guerra and midfielder Andrew Hull, sophomore, played the full 90 minutes for UMKC.

On Saturday, the Kangaroos traveled to Memphis to take on the Tigers, who recently ranked No. 23 in the Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

UMKC's senior midfielder Joe Chirco, senior forward Kyle Perkins, and junior midfielder Richard Harris recorded first half shots for the Kangaroos, but the match remained scoreless until Tripp Harkins found net for Memphis at the 26:42 mark, putting the Tigers up 1-0.

Memphis went up 2-0 with a Brian Farrell strike at 32:06. Subsequent action featured UMKC forwards Caleb Mitchell, senior, and Ryan Kaufman, senior, who both took shots for the Kangaroos before the half.

After the intermission, the Tigers' Brian Farrell picked up from where he left off, scoring suddenly five minutes into the second half and increasing the Memphis lead to 3-0. Tripp Harkins got the assist on the goal.

UMKC struck back several minutes later at the 53:28 mark with Kyle Perkins' first goal of the year on a Richard Harris assist. The score was the first for the Kangaroos in two games.

However, hopes for a UMKC comeback were short-lived. Less than a minute later, the Tiger's Kevin Walsh booted his third goal of the season. Then, in the 62nd minute, Tripp Harkins struck again for Memphis who now led 5-1.

Memphis went on to record their sixth tally on the afternoon, keeping the Kangaroos safely out of reach for the remainder of the match.

UMKC did score once more: a header from sophomore defender Kyle Brewer with an assist credited to freshman forward Bryan Perez. After 90 minutes of high-powered offense, Memphis celebrated a 6-2 home victory.

The Kangaroos continue their road trip with upcoming matches at Western Illinois University Sept. 16 and Bradley University Sept. 17. UMKC returns home with a rematch against Drake University on Sept. 22 at Swope Park.

dcordill@unews.com

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