Sherrod's Hat Trick Paces Tigers in 5-0 Victory Over Mavericks
Collins Posts Three Assists in Win Over UNO

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Sophomore forward Mark Sherrod tallied a hat trick as the Memphis men's soccer team (7-3-1, C-USA 1-2-0) defeated visiting Nebraska-Omaha (1-7-0), 5-0, at Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Tuesday evening. Andreas Guentner and Tiago Reichert also added goals for Memphis. In addition to assists by Chandler Gagnon, Wil Linder, and Lewis Ellis, Liam Collins recorded three assists on the evening.

The Tigers were the aggressor from the onset of the match. Ellis had the first chance of the game when he collected a ball about 40-yards out, but shot the ball directly at goalkeeper Josh Christensen. Only moments later, Sherrod fired another shot that was saved by Christensen.Parker Duncan gathered the rebound, but his shot also found Christensen's hands.

Andreas Guentner finally broke through in the 32nd minute for the Tigers. Gagnon broke through the Maverick's defense and played a ball across the box to Guentner, whose shot knicked the bottom of the crossbar before going into the goal. Sherrod added the second goal of the evening for Memphis. Liam Collins found Wil Linder in the middle. Linder sent a through ball to Sherrod, which he promptly shot past Christensen into the lower right corner.

The Tigers entered halftime with a 2-0 lead over the Mavericks. Memphis held Nebraska-Omaha without a shot attempt in the first half of play, while attempting 11 shots of its own. The Tigers placed seven shots on frame.

Sherrod started the second half for the Tigers by scoring his second goal of the match. Collins served the ball into the box for Sherrod, who headed it far post. Collins and Sherrod connected just under nine minutes later in the match after Collins stripped a UNO player of the ball. Sherrod took the feed from Collins at the top of the box and drilled a shot to the far post.

With the hat trick, Sherrod has now scored 11 goals on the season, the most since Andy Metcalf recorded 12 in 2005. Gordy Gurson scored a hat trick against Alabama A&M last season in the Tigers 8-0 win.

Collins' three-assist evening gives him nine on the year. Tiger-great Dayton O'Brien is the last to record double-digits in assists with 14 in 2004. Collins is the last player to tally three in assists in a game, also in the Alabama A&M contest last season.

Freshmen Linder has five points in the last two games for Memphis and, fellow freshman Gagnon has three over the same span.

The Tigers' defense was extremely stingy on the night, allowing only one shot attempt. At night's end, Memphis outshot Nebraska-Omaha, 28-1, and placed 14 shots on goal. Conor Hurley posted his second-consecutive clean sheet while recording one save in the game. The shutout is Hurley's fourth on the season.

The Memphis Tigers will make the trek to Oklahoma for a Sunday afternoon clash with the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa. Game-time is currently slated for 3:30 p.m. CT. The series is currently tied at 3-3-2.