Sherrod’s Second-Consecutive Hat Trick Gives Memphis 3-0 Win at Tulsa

Memphis Tallies Eighth Win Behind Sherrod Hat Trick

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Behind the second-straight hat trick from sophomore forward Mark Sherrod, Memphis defeated Tulsa, 3-0, to improve to 8-3-1 on the season and 2-2-0 in Conference USA. With the loss Tulsa falls to 4-9-0 and 0-4-0 in C-USA.

The Tigers were on the attack from the onset of the first half. Memphis had an early chance in 3^rd minute when Chandler Gagnon sent in a cross to Parker Duncan, but the ball sailed beyond Duncan’s outstretched foot. Gagnon had a chance of his own in the 14^th minute, but headed the shot wide right.

Only a moment later, Duncan fired a shot on goal that was deflected by Tulsa goalkeeper Michael Murray. Sherrod was there to collect the rebound and tally his first goal of the match, giving Memphis the lead, 1-0, in the 16^th minute.

Less than ten minutes later, freshman forward Lewis Ellis played a ball into the box that Sherrod headed past Murray for his second goal of the game. The U of M was close to a third goal in the half when Sherrod made a run, but his shot was saved by Murray. Duncan gathered the rebound and scored, but was called offside on the play, nullifying the goal.

Memphis outshot Tulsa 13-1 in the half and attempted 2 corners, while Tulsa did not have a corner kick in the half. Murray made five saves for Tulsa.

The Tigers stayed on the attack in the second half. After a mishandled ball by the Golden Hurricane, Ellis played the ball from about 35 yards away to the far side of the box. Sherrod met the pass and launched the ball into the back of the net for his third goal of the game.

The hat trick is Sherrod’s second-consecutive hat trick. Sherrod now has 14 goals on the season, the most since Sean Fraser’s 18 in 2001. He now has 30 points on the year, tying him with former Memphis-great Dayton O’Brien for the most since Fraser recorded 42, also in 2001.

Tulsa’s Kyle Cummings put a shot on goal in the 66^th minute in an attempt to get the Hurrican on the board, but Hurley was there to gather the shot. Omar Mata made a run into the box in the 70th minute and sent a shot that sailed just wide of the near post. However, Tulsa’s best chance to avoid the shutout came with just seconds remaining in the contest. The Golden Hurricane played a long ball behind the Tigers’ backline. Memphis thought the Tulsa attackers were offside, but no call was made. The shot taken by Jon Wright hit the post, preserving the shutout for Memphis.

The Tigers finished with an 18-9 advantage in shots and 8-3 in shots on goal. Tulsa rebounded in the second half to end the game having a 4-2 lead in corner kicks.

With the win Memphis posts its third-straight shutout for the first time since posting six-consecutive clean sheets at the end of the 2004 regular season and opening round of C-USA tournament. Hurley, who tallied three saves on the afternoon, has now recorded five shutouts on the year. Hurley hasn’t allowed a goal in over 277 minutes of action.

Memphis snaps a 10-game road losing streak in C-USA play with the victory. The Tigers last won on the road in 2008 when they beat South Carolina, 2-0. The game-winning goal is Sherrod’s fifth on the year. Duncan’s assists is his third of the season, including two on game-winning goals. The two-assist performance by Ellis gives him four during his freshman campaign.

The Tigers will head to Hoover, Ala., for a game against UAB on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. CT. Although the game will be considered a home game for UAB, the contest is being played at Regions Park, home of the 2011 College Cup. Memphis holds the all-time series lead against UAB, 17-15.