Championship Results
PLAY-IN GAME
Tuesday, 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 1-4-0
Cincinnati 2-3-1
DePaul 0-4-0
Louisville 2-4-0
Marquette 4-4-0
Memphis 3-4-0
UNC Charlotte 3-4-1
Saint Louis 6-2-0
South Florida 9-2-0
All-Time Championship Match Results
1998 South Florida 4, Memphis 2
1997 Saint Louis 3, South Florida 1 (ot)
1996 South Florida 2, Marquette 1
1995 Saint Louis 2, UNC Charlotte 0
