Conference USA Men's Soccer Notebook - Nov. 5-11

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSIVE:
Simon Bird, Louisville
So., F, Lincoln Heights, England
Louisville sophomore forward SIMON BIRD is the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 4. Bird scored both game-winning goals this week against Charlotte and Memphis as the Cardinals continue to battle for a berth in the Conference USA Tournament. On the week Bird scored three goals. He leads Louisville this season with 11 goals, ranking him fifth in the U of L single-season record book.

DEFENSIVE:
Jeremy Morales, Louisville
Sr., GK, Grand Terrace, Calif.
Louisville goalkeeper JEREMY MORALES is the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 4. Morales tallied 10 saves this week and notched his 23rd career shutout and fourth of the season in a 1-0 win over Charlotte. Morales corralled two saves in the second half to secure the victory over the 49ers. He had seven saves against Memphis, including one in overtime that secured a Cardinal victory.


DETERMINE TOURNEY FIELD
Entering the final week of the regular season, four of the six berths to the Conference USA Tournament have been clinched. No. 4 Saint Louis claims at least a share of the title after downing Marquette, 2-1. UAB can claim a share of the regular season title with a win at East Carolina this weekend.

In addition to the Billikens and Blazers, South Florida and Cincinnati are also in the tournament. Cincinnati grabbed a spot after defeating East Carolina, 2-1 on Nov. 4.

Three teams - Charlotte (4-3-1 in C-USA), Marquette (4-4-0) and Louisville (3-5-1) - are competing for the final two spots. Here is how the teams fared against each other in the regular season:

Charlotte - beat MAR, lost to LOU
Louisville - lost to MAR, beat CHA
Marquette - beat LOU, lost to CHA

Here are each team's remaining matches:

CHA: vs. SLU (11/7), at USF (11/11)
LOU: at TCU (11/11)
MAR: at USF (11/7), CIN (11/11)

REGIONAL RANKINGS
Four Conference USA schools were regionally ranked in the Oct. 29 NSCAA regional polls. Here's a look at the polls in C-USA's regions:
Midwest Region
2. Saint Louis
Great Lakes Region
9. Marquette
South Region
3. UAB
7. South Florida

NATIONAL AWARDS NOMINEES
Saint Louis sophomore BRAD DAVIS and senior DIPSY SELOLWANE are among the 15 candidates for the Missouri Athletic Club's National Player of the Year Award.

Selolwane is a two-time Soccer America Team of the Week honoree who leads the nation in goals per game (1.33) and is second in points (2.92). Davis has also been recognized by Soccer America and is third in assists (0.71).

C-USA TV NETWORK
The Conference USA Television Network will air the 2001 C-USA Men's Soccer Tournament Final on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. EST at USF Soccer Stadium in Tampa. Jim Henderson, who also serves as an announcer for the Tampa Bay Mutiny of the MLS, will call the play-by-play, and Logan Fleck will provide the color commentary. Here is the syndication and satellite information (as of Nov. 5)

Sunshine Network - (day & time TBA)
Louisville (WFTE) - live
Memphis (WBII) - live
Cincinnati (WBQC) - (day & time TBA)
Charter Southeast - (day & time TBA)
Telstar 6, Transponder 11, KU Band

CONFERENCE USA MEN'S SOCCER NOTES


AROUND C-USA...

CHARLOTTE
Charlotte has won four of its last five matches following a 2-1 win at DePaul on Sunday. Sophomore DAVID MCGILL had the game-winning goal midway through the second half on an assist from OMAR BELKHITER. The 49ers' match with No. 4 Saint Louis, originally scheduled for Nov. 9, has been moved to Nov. 7, and the match with South Florida originally scheduled for Sept. 15 has been moved to Nov. 11.

CINCINNATI
Cincinnati earned a berth in the Conference USA Tournament with a 2-1 overtime win at East Carolina on Nov. 4. SCOTT LYONS' fourth goal of the year proved to be game-winner six minutes into overtime. Lyons was assisted by MATT HAYDEN, his third of the season. SHANE CURRAN had the Bearcats' other goal, it was his team-leading sixth of the season. The Bearcats wrap up the regular season at Marquette on Sunday.

DE PAUL
DePaul lost at Valparaiso, 4-2 on Nov. 2 and to Charlotte, 2-1 on Nov. 4. The Charlotte match was DePaul's home finale. CHRIS GREER had the Blue Demons' goal against the 49ers. It was the 27th of his career and moved him into fourth on the school's career list. DePaul visits TCU on Thursday and Memphis on Saturday.

EAST CAROLINA
Despite outshooting Cincinnati, East Carolina suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to the visiting Bearcats on Nov. 4. ANDY TABOR had ECU's goal on an assist from SEAN DUGGAN. Six of the Pirates' 11 losses are by one goal this season. East Carolina hosts No. 15 UAB on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE
Louisville defeated Charlotte (1-0) and Memphis (4-3 in overtime) last week. SIMON BIRD had had three goals in the two matches, including the overtime game-winner against the Tigers. He leads the Cardinals this season with 11 goals on the season, ranking him fifth in the UL record book. Senior goalkeeper JEREMY MORALES tallied 10 saves this week and notched his 23rd career shutout and fourth of the season against Charlotte. He is the school's career shutout leader. Louisville is one of three teams vying for the last two C-USA Tournament berths. The Cardinals visit TCU on Sunday.

MARQUETTE
Marquette dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 4 Saint Louis on Nov. 3. BRYAN GODFREY had the Golden Eagles' goal, as MU held the advantage in shots (11-9) and corner kicks (9-7). Marquette visits South Florida on Wednesday and hosts Cincinnati on Sunday in the regular season finale.

MEMPHIS
Memphis lost its first overtime match of the season when Louisville overcame a one goal deficit to tie the match with 15 minutes left and then win it in overtime, 4-3. MATT BRYANT, LARS THORSTENSEN and SEAN FRASER scored for Memphis. Memphis hosts Lipscomb (Wednesday) and DePaul (Saturday) in its final two matches of the regular season.

SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis clinched at least a share of its fourth straight Conference USA regular season championship with a 2-1 win over Marquette on Nov. 3. In his first career start, senior BOBBY O'CONNELL scored his first career goal at the 1:22 mark. Senior national player of the year candidate DIPSY SELOLWANE then tallied the game-winner, his nation-leading 19th goal of the season. The Billikens close the regular season at Charlotte on Wednesday.

SOUTH FLORIDA
JASON CUDJOE's two goals helped South Florida to a 3-1 win over TCU on Nov. 4. Cudjoe currently leads the team in goals (10) and points (21). Goalkeeper TROY PERKINS, who upped his record in the net to 12-4, recorded four key second half saves. USF wraps up its regular season by hosting Marquette on Wednesday and Charlotte on Sunday. In the league standings, South Florida leads Charlotte by five points and Marquette by six.

TCU
TCU suffered a pair of road losses at No. 15 UAB, 2-1 on Nov. 2 and at South Florida, 3-1 on Nov. 4. BOBBY MONTES's goal at the 21:45 mark of the South Florida match tied the score at one, but the Horned Frogs were slowed seven offsides calls, including four in the last 45 minutes. TCU hosts DePaul on Thursday and Louisville on Sunday.

UAB
No. 15 UAB defeated TCU, 2-1 in the Blazers' regular season home finale on Nov. 2. UAB outshot TCU, 17-7, as TYLER WILCOX, making his second start for the injured CLINT BAUMSTARK, recorded three saves. The Blazers visit East Carolina Friday in the regular season finale for both teams.

C-USA ON THE WEB
For the latest Conference USA news, check out the league's official web site: www.c-usasports.com.

MEDIA TEAMLINK
Conference USA and its member institutions will offer media information via e-mail and fax through Pivotal Communications. The fax on demand system is intended for media use only. You may access the Fax On Demand directory from www.mediateamlink.com
TOURNAMENT TIME
The 2001 Conference USA Tournament will take place Nov. 15-18 at USF Soccer Stadium in Tampa. The top six finishers in the league advance to the tournament, with the top two finishers earning first round byes. The match times are 5:30 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 and 1 p.m. on Nov. 18. The championship will be televised by the Conference USA Television Network. Check your local listings for details.