6.21.2000 C-USA Championship Results and Records
Championship Results
PLAY-IN GAMETuesday, November 3 (8) Louisville 1, DePaul 0 FIRST ROUND Saturday, November 7 (1) South Florida 2, Louisville 1 (7) Memphis 1, (2) Saint Louis 0 (2 ot) Sunday, November 8(5) Cincinnati 1, (4) UNC Charlotte 1 (UNCC won on PKs, 4-3) (6) Marquette 3, (3) UAB 1 (2 ot) SEMIFINALS (at Tampa, Fla.) Friday, November 13 Memphis 3, Marquette 0 South Florida 1, UNC Charlotte 0 CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Sunday, November 15 South Florida 4, Memphis 2 (Fox Sports Net)
Match-by-Match Summaries
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
South Florida 4, Memphis 2 South Florida defeated Memphis, 4-2, in the title game of the Confrence USA Championship. Memphis had a golden opportunity to score first when they received a penalty kick at the 34:38 mark, but senior goalkeeper SKIP MILLER turned away MATT BRIGGS shot. South Florida took a 1-0 lead when Kevin Alvero scored his 18th goal of the season after JOJO NICOLETTO fed him just inside the box. Alvero put in an 18-yard blast to give USF the lead at the half. The second half saw each team score on many opportunities. South Florida scored the first three goals of the half to go up 4-0. Memphis made a late charge on two STEVEN BROOKS goals, but fell short.
SEMIFINAL MATCHES
South Florida 1, UNC Charlotte 0
The game was locked at 0-0 for the majority of the game until KEVIN ALVERO took a pass in the box from JEFF HOUSER and shot the ball on goal. UNC Charlotte GOALKEEPER JOHN MCDONOUGH got a piece of the shot, but the ball trickled past the goal line for the deciding goal with just :29 seconds left in regulation. The goal was Alvero's seventh game-winning goal of the season.
Memphis 3, Marquette 0
After 77 minutes of scoreless play, Tiger freshman Sean Fraser came through with the eventual game-winning goal. Defender RICHARD KEENE broke through a double-team in the left corner before crossing a pass to a streaking Fraser in front of the net, who headed in his second goal of the season.
QUARTERFINAL MATCHES
South Florida 2, Louisville 1
USF forward KEVIN ALVERO, the conference's leading scorer, netted the game-winner at 62:48 to lift the Bulls to a 2-1 win over Louisville. The Cardinals had tied the match in the 49th minute on a short shot in front of the goal. South Florida's JEFF HOUSER began the scoring when he took a centering pass and put it in the goal just nine minutes into the game.
Memphis 1, Saint Louis 0
Memphis midfielder TAYLOR STIRLING scored the game-winner in the second overtime to lift the Tigers to the upset of the second-seeded and No. 9-ranked Saint Louis Billikens. Memphis goalkeeper BRIAN COVEY made seven saves, including three spectacular second half saves, to preserve the victory.
Marquette 3, UAB 1 (ot)
STEVE GOVIN and SEAN RETI each scored goals during overtime to push No. 6 seed Marquette to a 3-1 victory over UAB. Govin scored at 103:04 on a 15-yard shot to put the Golden Eagles ahead 2-1. Reti netted the insurance goal with just 3:34 remaining. RYAN TAYLOR scored the other Marquette goal, while JIM WELCH made four saves in goal for the Golden Eagles.
UNC Charlotte 1, Cincinnati 1
(won by UNCC on PKs, 4-3)
UNC Charlotte sophomore goalie JOHN MCDONOUGH made two saves during the penalty kick shootout as the 49ers advanced past Cincinnati. In the first round of the shootout, McDonough made a diving save to his right ON MYRON VAUGHN's shot and 49ers senior JON MABEE delivered to put the UNCC ahead 1-0. After trading goals in the next three rounds, McDonough saved ANDREW KEAN's low blast to his left to clinch the victory. Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead at the 8:00 minute mark on a goal by ANDREW KEAN and the 49ers tied it at 15:23 when senior JON MABEE headed in a CHRISTIAN LUND cross.
PLAY-IN MATCH
South Florida 2 Louisville 1
USF forward KEVIN ALVERO, the conference's leading scorer, netted the game-winner at 62:48 to lift the Bulls to a 2-1 win over Louisville. The Cardinals had tied the match in the 49th minute on a short shot in front of the goal. South Florida's JEFF HOUSER began the scoring when he took a centering pass and put it in the goal just nine minutes into the game.
All-Tournament Team
Here's a look at the All-Tournament Awards that were given at the Conference USA Championship in Tampa:
Most Valuable Forward
Kevin Alvero, South Florida
Most Valuable Midfielder
Jeff Houser, South Florida
Most Valuable Defender
Ryan Schwaigert, Memphis
Most Valuable Goalkeeper
Skip Miller, South Florida
C-USA on TV
The championship game of the Conference USA Men's Soccer Championship was televised by Fox Sports Net, the third straight year that the tournament title game was televised. Josh Lewin provided the play-by-play, while Glen Davis served as the analyst.
Championships Records
Here's an updated look at each team's all-time record in the Conference USA Championship (through 1998):
UAB 1-4-0Cincinnati 2-3-1DePaul 0-4-0Louisville 2-4-0Marquette 4-4-0Memphis 3-4-0UNC Charlotte 3-4-1Saint Louis 6-2-0South Florida 9-2-0
All-Time Championship Match Results
1998 South Florida 4, Memphis 21997 Saint Louis 3, South Florida 1 (ot)1996 South Florida 2, Marquette 11995 Saint Louis 2, UNC Charlotte 0