A Shoeless Sherrod Scores Loan Goal as Memphis Upsets No. 18 Bradley, 1-0

Tigers Remain Undefeated Following Upset of No. 18 Bradley

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – In a game which Memphis maintained control for most of the match, the Tigers used a goal from a shoeless Mark Sherrod to upset No. 18 Bradley, 1-0, in Peoria, Ill. Memphis improves to 5-0-1 on the season, marking one of the best starts in school history. Bradley falls to 4-1-2 on the year.

With Bradley pressing in the Memphis half, the Tigers were able to gain possession of the ball and find Wil Linder in the middle. Linder was able to break free on the counter-attack. Sherrod made a run up the sideline, coming out of his shoe in the process. Linder found the streaking Sherrod, who made a few dribbles and buried the game-winning goal with his shoeless left-foot in the 81^st minute.

Sherrod’s goal is his fifth on the season, including four game-winning goals. He has tallied 11 points in the first six games, which is more than any Tiger scored during the 2010 campaign. For Linder, his assist on Sherrod’s goal marks the first assist and points of his Memphis career.

In a first half that was largely dominated by the Tigers, the two teams went into the locker room scoreless. Memphis outshot Bradley 10-4, including a 3-0 advantage in shots on goal, during the first stanza. The Tigers also led with three corner-kicks compared to two for the Braves.

In the 23^rd minute, Collins put a great shot attempt on goal that Bradley goalkeeper Brian Billings deflected out-of-bounds, leading to a corner kick for the Tigers. On the ensuing corner kick, Ellis took a shot that went just wide and hit the outside of the net.

Memphis kept the pressure on Bradley, as Ellis had another shot that went just wide right only moments later. In the 34^th minute, the Tigers drew free kick that was within scoring range. Billings mishandled the shot and Memphis put it into the back of the net. But, the goal was nullified as Memphis was called offside.

Mark Sherrod had the last scoring opportunity for Memphis in the first half, with a shot from close range. Billings was able to get a hand on it and then sprawled to corral the deflection.

Bradley came out of the locker room after halftime on the attack, closing the overall margin of shots taken to one, 12-11, in favor of Memphis. However, the Tiger defense was up to the challenge and did not surrender a shot on goal during the entire match, as Memphis recorded a 4-0 advantage in shots on goal.

Despite the increased intensity by the Braves, the Tigers maintained their composure and used the counter-attack to beat Bradley. Memphis goalkeeper Conor Hurley posted his second clean sheet of the season thanks to the spectacular defensive efforts of Jordan Johnson, J.J. Greer, Chandler Gagnon, Cody McCoy, Andreas Guentner, and Thomas Shannon.

Sherrod’s goal, which came in the 81^st minute, kept alive Memphis’ streak of scoring in the final 20 minutes of each match this season. Additionally, Linder is the 10^th Tiger to record a point this year.

Memphis stays in Peoria, Ill., and will play Evansville in a Sunday afternoon match. Kickoff is currently set for noon as the Tigers put their undefeated record on the line.

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