Category: Sports Feature

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Sports Sports Feature

Remembering “Ren”

Memphis magazine February 1996 Cover (Photo: Memphis Magazine)

This Saturday at FedExForum, the late Lorenzen Wright will become the 10th former Memphis Tiger to have his uniform number retired. At halftime of the Tigers’ game against Tulane, Wright’s 55 will rise to the arena’s rafters, where it will hang above the court for every Tiger home game to come. There it will join banners honoring nine other legends who proudly wore blue and gray for Memphis: Forest Arnold, Win Wilfong, Larry Finch, Ronnie Robinson, Larry Kenon, John Gunn, Keith Lee, Elliot Perry, and Penny Hardaway. Wright’s ceremony will be the first to retire a Tiger’s number since March 2014, when the program honored Kenon.

Beyond the Mid-South, Lorenzen Wright is as famous for his tragic passing as for his exploits on the basketball court. In July 2010, a little over a year since he played his final NBA game, Wright was shot to death in a field in east Shelby County, the victim of a scheme orchestrated by his ex-wife, who is now serving a 30-year prison sentence. (The man who pulled the trigger is serving a life sentence.) He left behind six children and thousands upon thousands of fans from his days with the Tigers and, later, the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

A graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Wright joined the Tiger program after a down season (13-16) in 1993-94. An immediate starter for coach Larry Finch, Wright brought a ferocity to basketball at The Pyramid unlike many Tigers before him. (Did players scream after dunks before Lorenzen Wright?) He averaged a double-double that season, pacing Memphis in both scoring (14.8 points per game) and rebounds (10.1). Best of all, he helped the Tigers reach the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16, drubbing archrival Louisville in the first round. After another double-double campaign as a sophomore (17.4 and 10.4 rebounds), Wright entered the NBA draft and was chosen with the seventh pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.

To date, no former Tiger has played in more NBA games than Lorenzen Wright’s 778. And while Wright suited up for five teams as a pro, he played more games with the new-to-town Memphis Grizzlies (336) than any other. He remains seventh in Grizzlies history with 2,386 rebounds. Wright’s banner will be the only one that could be left up on a Grizzlies game night and still feel appropriate.

Only 34 years old at the time of his murder, Wright deserved a better fate. He was and is a beloved Memphian, still one of only two Tiger players to appear on the cover of Memphis magazine. (Keith Lee is the other. Finch and Hardaway each graced the cover, but not until they were coaching the program.) Saturday afternoon will be a special moment in the history of a proud basketball program, and even more special for those who love and remember the one and only Lorenzen Wright.

• The Tigers won’t be able to stop with 10 retired numbers. Among the players honored, none played for the program since Wright appeared in his last college game 27 years ago. Andre Turner (number 10) should join his teammate Lee in the rafters, his career assists total (763) not so much as approached since the Little General’s last game in 1986. The university must also find a way to recognize at least one player from the extraordinary four-year period from 2005-06 to 2008-09 when the Tigers reached at least the Sweet 16 every season. I’ve long advocated the retirement of number 5 for Antonio Anderson. He played for all four of those teams and is the only player in Memphis history to compile 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. Anderson also played in more games (150) than any other Tiger, a record unlikely to be matched in the near future.

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Sports Sports Feature

Kendric’s Place

Kendric Davis (Photo: Larry Kuzniewski)

With every game the Memphis Tigers play, Kendric Davis adds a layer to what will be a one-year legacy for the program. The fifth-year guard was considered the best free-agent acquisition before the season tipped off in November. (And yes, let’s start calling players like Davis “free agents.” College basketball stars are going to be pursued with as much vigor as any pro at the end of a contract. “Transfer” is far too quaint in modern context.) But how would Davis fit alongside veteran mainstays like DeAndre Williams and Alex Lomax? Could he adapt to a new culture under head coach/local hero Penny Hardaway? (The best Tiger player under Hardaway will be, at best, the second-most popular man in the program.) Could he help other rookie vets — like Keonte Kennedy and Elijah McCadden — be better as Tigers than they were in other uniforms?

Davis is checking each box. Through Sunday’s action (16 games), the former SMU Mustang leads the American Athletic Conference in scoring (20.0 points per game) and, remarkably, assists (6.1). He’s third in the AAC in steals (2.3), a category topped by his current backcourt buddy, Lomax (3.0). In Saturday’s win over East Carolina, Davis struggled in the first half, scoring only two points and taking a shot to the face that briefly sidelined him. The Pirates had the crowd at FedExForum on shock alert with an 11-point lead shortly before halftime. But the Tigers — a pack of seniors, remember — stormed out for the second half and administered a 26-3 run that had ECU effectively beaten with ten minutes still left on the clock.

It was not a good afternoon for Davis. He missed 14 of the 20 shots he took, including all six three-point attempts. He committed a team-high five turnovers. And the Tigers still won handily (69-59). When the reigning AAC Player of the Year is at his best, Memphis looks like a dangerous team come March. If they can win when Davis under-performs — he still played 33 minutes and scored 14 points last Saturday — the Tigers appear to have the roster composition of a champion.

• An AAC scoring title for Davis won’t be such a big deal for the player. He led the league after both the 2020-21 season and 2021-22. But what about such an achievement for the Memphis program? Going back a half-century, only four Tigers have led a conference in scoring (and none since Memphis joined the AAC in 2013). Keith Lee topped the Metro Conference as a senior in 1984-85, Elliot Perry led the Metro in 1990-91, Penny Hardaway paced the Great Midwest Conference in 1992-93, and Will Barton led Conference USA in 2011-12. Perry and Hardaway each finished second in assists the season they led their league in scoring. That is the company Kendric Davis is keeping this winter as leading man for the Memphis Tigers.

• Have you noticed any missing banners from the rafters at FedExForum? Four NIT banners (from 1963, ’67, ’72, and ’77) have been taken down, along with a pair of NCAA (1986 and 2013). The NCAA banners need to be returned to their spots, of course, but I’ve long advocated the removal of NIT banners, except for those representing seasons Memphis reached at least the semifinals (1957, 2001, ’02, ’05, and ’21). How about finding room for a pair of banners to acknowledge conference championships (one regular-season, another for tournaments)? The NIT is no longer a goal for any program, like Memphis, that begins each season with Big Dance expectations. But a conference title? Those are all too rare, special teams that earned recognition for posterity.

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Sports Sports Feature

Big Game Players

INDvMEM Indy Eleven vs Memphis 901 FC .07/23/2022.IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium.Indianapolis, IN.Photo: Don Thompson

The Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant reached new heights in 2022, the team tying a franchise record with 56 wins as the player started his first All-Star Game and earned second-team All-NBA accolades. Better yet, the Griz became the youngest team in NBA history to win as many as 55 games, good enough to earn the franchise its first Southwest Division championship. It turns out that leading the NBA in rebounding, steals, and blocks is a good thing, as Memphis finished the 2021-22 campaign with the second-best mark in the entire league, this despite Morant missing 25 games with various ailments. The Grizzlies turned aside Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs before fizzling out against the title-bound Golden State Warriors. It was the kind of season that leaves a fan base wanting even more. Lots more.

The Tigers — both basketball and football — had “yes but” seasons in 2022. Penny Hardaway’s hoop squad reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years, but wasn’t able to reach the big dance’s second weekend (extending a drought that dates back to 2009). Highlights of the season on the hardwood included a pair of wins over top-10 foes (Alabama and Houston). On the gridiron, the Tigers reached bowl eligibility for the ninth straight season, but finished merely 6-6 (a second straight year). Coach Ryan Silverfield will be back for a fourth season, but expectations — both within the program and outside — are high and heavy for 2023.

The Memphis Redbirds fell short of the playoffs in their first season in the International League, but a pair of players achieved some history for the franchise. Outfielder Moisés Gómez slammed 16 home runs for Memphis after being promoted from Double-A Springfield (where he had hit 23) to establish a new minor-league record for the St. Louis Cardinals with 39 bombs for the season. And Alec Burleson — another rising outfielder — hit .331 to win the International League batting title, the first such crown in Redbirds history.

Memphis 901 FC catapulted the organization to new heights, thanks to stellar player recruitment from the front office, coach Ben Pirmann’s tactical tweaking and man-management, and team-of-the-season performances from multiple players. There were plenty of things to be happy about. Memphis finished the year with a 22-8-6 record, racking up the franchise’s highest season totals for wins, points, and goals scored. 2022 saw a first ever playoff win for the organization, a 3-1 victory over Detroit City FC, before the team just missed out on the conference finals with a tight loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Along the way, striker Phillip Goodrum tallied 21 goals, midfielder Aaron Molloy chipped in with 8 goals and 10 assists, and defender Graham Smith marshaled the team to 11 clean sheets. Once the dust fell, 901 FC quickly announced contract extensions for all three players, each of whom were named in either the first or second USL All-League teams. And plenty of other key players had their contracts extended, including captain Leston Paul. The only sour note is that Pirmann announced his exit from the club, accepting the head coaching role with Charleston Battery FC. But looking back, this squad made Memphis and its AutoZone Park matchday fans proud. After a couple years, 901 FC showed that it belongs in the USL.

Meanwhile, sports infrastructure got a big boost when Mayor Jim Strickland announced an ambitious $684 million proposal to renovate the FedExForum, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, and AutoZone Park. Plus, the plan called for a new soccer-first Memphis 901 FC stadium (with options to host other programming and events). The city is asking the state of Tennessee to cover $350 million after seeing Nashville’s plans for a new $2 billion stadium for the Tennessee Titans, with state assistance. But nothing’s set in stone.

Youth sports have a shiny new home in the Memphis Sports & Event Center (MSEC) at Liberty Park. At 227,000 square feet, the $60 million complex’s enormous footprint can accommodate young athletes for anything indoor sports related, from basketball to futsal to volleyball and so many others. While final construction won’t be complete until early next year, Liberty Park began showing off the new facilities in December, and it’s enough to get any sports fan excited.

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Beyond the Arc Sports Sports Feature

Thunder Clap Back, End Grizzlies’ Win Streak

Steven Adams jumps for the opening possession against Aleksej Pokusevski. (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

After sweeping a five-game homestand, the Grizzlies hit the road for the next four games. First up was another meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder in what should have been an easy win. 

Spoiler alert: It was not. The final score was 115-109 in favor of a Thunder team missing its two best players in Shai Gilegeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

Let’s get into it.  

The first point the Grizzlies put on the board was Steven Adams splitting a pair of free throws after being fouled on the first possession and that should have been a sign of what was to come.  

First half woes were the biggest contributors to the Grizzlies demise against the Thunder, culminating with the undue ejection of Ja Morant with 43 seconds left in the second quarter.

Morant was assessed two back-to-back technical fouls within less than a minute, the second under contested circumstances when he allegedly made derogatory remarks about the officiating to some Memphis fans near the court. Dillon Brooks also ended up acquiring a tech when Morant was ejected.  

From Ja Morant postgame via NBA.com: ”I got my first tech for saying I got hit in my f**king face. Didn’t curse at him,” Morant said. ”Another situation where he’s in my conversation and I get another tech for talking with a fan. I feel like when these fans came here, went online to buy these tickets, they didn’t say Ray’s (Acosta) name to come watch.” 

Oklahoma City outscored Memphis 64-43 in the first half with the Grizzlies shooting 27.3% overall and 19% from beyond the arc. The Grizzlies outscored the Thunder 66-51 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome the huge deficit they accumulated in the first half.  

Memphis shot a season worst 26.7% from three-point range. Ironically, they had a better than usual free throw percentage (78.4%) although they still missed 8 free throws in a game they lost by 6. Poor shot selection and the inability to defend without fouling in the second half hurt the Grizzlies more than poor free throw shooting.  

Nothing to do but move on to the next one. Despite this loss, the Grizzlies remain the top team in the Western Conference.

By The Numbers: 

Dillon Brooks had a game-high 32 points on 10-of-24 overall shooting and 6 of 15 from beyond the arc.  

Jaren Jackson Jr finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and a rare zero block game for him.  

From the bench unit, Tyus Jones closed out with 15 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals.  

Brandon Clarke had 10 points, 8 rebounds, and one block and Santi Aldama put up 7 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 5 of 5 from the free throw line.  

Who Got Next? 

The Grizzlies are headed to Denver to take on the Nuggets Tuesday night, December 20th. Tip-off is at 9 PM CST and unfortunately there is no local broadcast for this one, so fans will have to watch this one on TNT.  

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Dismantles Tulsa in Playoff Dress Rehearsal

Jeremy Kelly helped 901 FC keep another clean sheet. (Photo: USL Championship)

Last Saturday’s game was a chance for Memphis to lay down a marker ahead of its home playoff match this weekend. And by the time Dylan Borczak thundered in the final goal of Memphis’ 3-0 win against FC Tulsa, 901 FC made sure that all comers would be on high alert walking into AutoZone Park over the next few weeks. The positive, ruthless, front-foot performance was the perfect tone to set before Memphis embarks on its playoff run.

On paper, Memphis looked like the odds-on favorite to win this match, such is their impressive away form this season. In reality, it was a straightforward victory for 901 FC. The teams enjoyed even possession, but Memphis shot straight out of the blocks, pinging the ball around with intent and creating chance after chance while Tulsa labored to get any sort of rhythm. We saw plenty of the hallmarks of head coach Ben Pirmann’s side this season, chief among them Phillip Goodrum’s blazing hot goal-scoring form.

The forward made 901 FC history in the ninth minute, converting Leston Paul’s delivery with a diving header past Tulsa goalkeeper Dallas Odle to score his 21st goal of the season. That took him one clear of Kyle Murphy’s record of 20 goals, set last season. That’s a stellar haul for any forward, and unfortunately Goodrum just missed out on being this year’s golden boot winner. Orange County SC’s Milan Iloski, over in the Western Conference, took home the award with 22 goals.

Goodrum unfortunately had to be subbed out before halftime, and hopefully he’ll be firing on all cylinders and fully fit for the Eastern Conference round of 16. But that was the only low mark for the game. Luiz Fernando continued his habit of twisting, turning, and confounding opposition defenders, this time to tangible effect when he drew a penalty from his marker, which midfielder Aaron Molloy duly dispatched. A note about Molloy: He’s been on the bench only once for 901 FC this season. Out of 34 total matches, it’s 33 games, and 33 starts for the Irishman. That speaks to his influence in the middle of the park, and it’s been a great personal season for him with eight goals and 11 assists to his name.

Laurent Kissiedou floated through the final third time and again, untouchable as always, while captain Leston Paul held everything together in the center of the park and even grabbed an assist for Goodrum’s opener. At the back, it was great to see John Berner get another appearance in goal after a long series of injuries. The backline ahead of him once again stood firm to keep a clean sheet.

Memphis closes the regular season having locked up the second seed in the Eastern Conference after a 21-8-5 record, setting a club record for wins, points (68), and goals scored (67). Much of that was built on rock-solid away form and Memphis’ ability to build on confident first-half performances. (Memphis kept opponents scoreless in the first half in 22 of their 34 matches.)

With a best-ever season under their belt and having proven they can beat anyone, the players should feel confident that they can go all the way this season. And the second seed means that Memphis will enjoy home field advantage at AutoZone Park in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The win against Tulsa was the perfect warm-up, but the business end of the season starts now. This Saturday, 901 FC welcome their first playoff opponent, Detroit City FC, at 8 p.m. The Bluff City Mafia will be out there doing their part, but it’s up to the rest of the fans to fill out the stadium and create a rocking atmosphere. After all, big things may lie in wait down the line.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC to Open Soccer-Specific Stadium

An aerial rendering of the planned 901 FC stadium at Liberty Park. (Credit: 901 FC/Odell Sports & Entertainment Studio)

Soccer fans will soon be saying adios to AutoZone Park, and hello to a brand new stadium dedicated completely to soccer.

On Tuesday, Memphis 901 FC and the City of Memphis announced plans to build a new, 10,000 capacity stadium within Liberty Park. Odell Sports & Entertainment Studio and LRK will partner to design the stadium, which will be built on the site of the Mid-South Coliseum.

The stadium will have 7,500 fixed seats, as well as suites, clubs, and large covered gathering spaces to accomodate large parties and special events. The new stadium will also be able to host other special events, including concerts and additional long-field sports. 901 FC’s new home is expected to be ready in time for the start of the 2025 USL Championship season.

“When we launched our football club in 2019, we had two dreams,” said 901 FC sporting director Tim Howard. “The first was to compete at the highest level and win a USL Championship. Today, we are proud to be in the playoffs for our second consecutive season, this time as the second seed. The second goal was to build a proper soccer stadium with a world class pitch for our club that rivals that of Louisville or any of the great new venues being built in the United States and Europe for soccer. Today we move closer to that dream.” 

Alongside the new stadium, 901 FC will develop two adjacent state of the art soccer fields, which will act as 901 FC’s training home along with potential academy, League 2, and a women’s professional teams.

An aerial rendering of the planned 901 FC stadium within Liberty Park. (Credit: 901 FC)

It is a huge statement of intent for 901 FC, which currently shares AutoZone Park with the MiLB Memphis Redbirds. Having its own dedicated stadium will allow the team to grow its brand and provide one of the best match-day environments in the USL.

901 FC kicks plays its first ever home playoff match at 7 p.m. this Saturday, October 22, against Detroit City FC in the quarterfinals. Memphis locked up the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing the regular season with a 3-0 away win against FC Tulsa last Saturday.

The new stadium is part of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland’s $684 million plan to renovate sports stadiums in Memphis, including the FedExForum, Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, and AutoZone Park. Strickland plans to ask the state of Tennessee to invest $350 million towards the plan.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC’s Miami Blues

Nighte Pickering couldn’t repeat his debut heroics. (Photo: Memphis 901 FC/Ryan Beatty)

The fixture against Miami FC always looked like a fairly tricky one, due to 901 FC squad shortages and Hurricane Ian. Luckily, the cyclone had mostly gone around Miami, so the game went ahead. But instead of the confident, composed team that we’re used to, Saturday’s match was full of mistakes. And despite some heroics by goalkeeper Trey Muse, Memphis conceded from a late Miami strike to lose 1-0.

Normally, Memphis could feel bullish about their chances against any away team. Fresh off a win against conference-leading Louisville City last weekend in Kentucky, 901 FC walked into the Miami matchup boasting a ridiculous +14 goal difference for road games. But one problem: After some heated clashes at the end of last weekend’s match, a mixture of suspensions and injuries meant that three key players would miss the game — leading scorer Phillip Goodrum, Laurent Kissiedou (25 goals between those two), and defender Rece Buckmaster. Instead, Memphis head coach Ben Pirmann tabbed 17-year-old Nighte Pickering to lead the attack for Saturday’s match. On the other side of the field, familiar faces Kyle Murphy, Mark Segbers, and Pierre da Silva lined up for Miami.

This clash started with some choppy back-and-forth for the opening quarter hour, neither team threatening to take control of the game. Memphis sat back and looked to soak up pressure, but couldn’t quite put together the lightning-quick counters that they’ve been fine-tuning all season. Miami had the bulk of possession and had one decent chance that goalkeeper Trey Muse blocked on to the post.

Memphis didn’t really threaten until 25 minutes, with some good interplay around the box eventually seeing Leston Paul’s low cross batted away. From there, they slowly began to ease back into the game. But whenever they did regain possession, the attacking forays saw a more patient build-up than we’ve been used to seeing. Indeed, for most of the first half it remained a physical game, with defenses coming out on top. Miami almost snuck in behind, but a quick intervention cleared the danger, and that was about it for first-half action. Memphis did swing possession back in their favor at halftime (53 percent), but had only one shot (off target).

The second half started similar to the first, with Miami controlling the ball and Memphis sitting back, but the home team dialed up the pressure a bit to create a few chances. Muse made an errant pass to a Miami player just outside his box in the 50th, but clawed away the ensuing chip shot. And two minutes later, Miami created a 1v1 opportunity for Josh Pérez, but Muse saved yet again before stopping a headed chance just moments later.

After that, the ref started to lose control of the match, with tackles going in both ways that drew a couple of cards. Murphy should have been sent off for a wild tackle, while 901 FC midfielder Aaron Molloy cleared out both ball and man on a subsequent hard challenge. On a positive note, Pirmann subbed on new signing Dylan Borczak in the 60th minute. The player needed no time at all to adjust to the pace of the game, committing a foul within seconds of coming on.

The game sputtered on until the 91st minute, when Memphis’ luck finally ran out. A final Miami break saw a cut back fall to Adonijah Reid, who calmly placed the ball in the bottom corner to steal the win for Miami.

A bitter pill to swallow for Memphis, who just didn’t really show up to the races last weekend and tallied their first loss since August 31st. And with only one shot on target, it was always going to be tough to walk away with a positive result. A win also would have taken 901 FC above Louisville to clamp down the top spot in the Eastern standings, but not this day. No need to panic, though. In the end, it’s just one result, and locking up first in the conference is still possible. Either way, Memphis should have a preferable matchup in the first round of the playoffs.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Fall to Birmingham Legion

Luiz Fernando is on a three-game scoring streak for Memphis. (Photo: USL/New York Red Bulls II)

Some losses sting more than others. Dropping points at home, against rivals Birmingham Legion FC, is something no fan wants to experience. And this match truly was a battle, a back-and-forth slugfest between these regional competitors who went blow for blow throughout the 90 minutes. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the team’s day, and Memphis fell 4-2 at home against Birmingham.

This clash is always one that fans put on their calendar, the build-up to each contest seeing some light, and some not so light, ribbing between the fan bases online. For those regularly outside soccer circles, there’s a saying that “form goes out the window” during a “derby” (a match between local rivals), so previous results and logic need not apply when trying to predict the outcome. It’s hard to bet against Memphis this season, but lest we forget, Birmingham are also a top team in the Eastern Conference.

Before the match, the commentators speculated that this game could be a shoot-out, and that’s exactly what happened. Memphis got the fun started early, going ahead thanks to a name that should be familiar on the score sheet from the past couple of weeks. Midfielder Leston Paul played a ball into the box, and Phillip Goodrum’s dummy allowed Luiz Fernando to take a sweet first touch into space and slot home his left-footed shot to put Memphis up 1-0 in the 18th minute.

Unfortunately, some uncertainty began to creep into Memphis’ game. We started seeing uncharacteristic mistakes on the defensive side, with players perhaps a little tired after the midweek trip to Albuquerque. Birmingham tied up the game after Anderson Asiedu drew a sloppy foul in Memphis’ box, with former USMNT forward Juan Agudelo equalizing from the spot in the 28th minute. Just a couple minutes later, Patrick Seagrist had to intervene with a headed clearance off the line to prevent Memphis going behind. But 901 FC did eventually fall behind from a corner kick just before halftime, and shortly into the second half, Birmingham extended their lead to 3-1 when Marlon Santos pounced on Rece Buckmaster’s mistake at the back and shot past Trey Muse.

Memphis did pull a goal back in the 61st minute, when Goodrum’s shot ricocheted off Jeremy Kelly and into the back of the net. But while pushing forward for an equalizer, Memphis conceded again, Birmingham restoring their two-goal cushion and seeing out the game for a 4-2 win.

It’s a disappointing loss for sure, but no cause for panic. On the balance of play, Saturday’s match was pretty even. 901 FC held 59 percent possession, taking 15 shots (10 in the box) to Birmingham’s 17 (11 in the box), and forcing the Legion into almost three times as many defensive clearances. The key differences came in just a few instances when Memphis’ concentration levels dropped, with a small number of mistakes being punished by the Legion attack. It’s not the kind of thing we see from 901 FC every week, and it’s something that coach Ben Pirmann will be quick to stamp out.

Despite the loss, Memphis emerged from the weekend holding down second place in the Eastern Conference standings on 51 points. And that top spot is still within touching distance, with frontrunners Louisville City FC sitting on 55 points, albeit having played one less game.

The playoffs surely beckon, and as it stands, Memphis can go toe to toe with any opponent they match up against. Next up are Loudoun United FC at AutoZone Park on Wednesday, August 31st. Loudoun currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings and present a good opportunity for Memphis to get back to winning ways.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC’s Nighte to Remember

Nighte Pickering celebrates after scoring a spectacular first career goal. (Credit: Ryan Beatty/901FC)

Some players hit the ground running. Others like to hit the ground scoring. Literally, in the case of Memphis’ new signing Nighte Pickering.

The 17-year-old, who had joined the team just two days prior to Saturday’s game, decided that he didn’t have time to wait around to open his professional account. The teenager’s acrobatic bicycle kick late in the game marked his first goal in Memphis blue, and 901 FC’s final tally en route to a smooth 3-1 victory at AutoZone Park.

Last Saturday’s victory made it two relatively simple wins on the bounce. New York Red Bulls II didn’t threaten much back on August 3rd, and the same went here, with Memphis dominating the first half completely, almost taking the lead when David Egbo tapped in from close range, but the forward was adjudged to have been offside by a hair. And just a minute later, Memphis actually fell behind when caught out by a quick counter attack, former 901 FC player Rashawn Dally squaring for Prince Saydee to smash in from close range in the 37th.

But 901 FC doesn’t like losing this season, and midfielder Aaron Molloy just a few minutes later blasted in an equalizer, smashing his shot from outside the box past a helpless Yannik Oettl in the Hartford goal. And then just a couple minutes after that, Molloy tallied his eight assist of the season after he sent in a delicious swerving set piece delivery that defender Zach Carroll was all too happy to head in from close range, putting Memphis up 2-1 at halftime.

Memphis continued to dominate after halftime, but the clear icing on the cake was Pickering subbing on to score his first professional goal. Pouncing on a poorly headed clearance in the Hartford box, he launched himself into the air and hit his overhead kick goalward. As he hit the ground, the ball flew into the back of the net, cuing wild jubilation from the crowd and his teammates. Not bad for a first goal at the pro level, eh? That’s a player oozing with confidence and already feeling at home in the league, and no matter where his career goes from here, he’ll always have that.

Nighte Pickering’s acrobatic goal sealed 901 FC’s 3-1 victory. (Credit: Ryan Beatty/901FC)

So how dominant was 901 FC in this game? Take a look at the maps below. On the first touch map (901 FC players represented by brown circles), numbers 7 and 19, fullbacks Patrick Seagrist and Rece Buckmaster, respectively, held an average position almost inside the Hartford half. Meanwhile, only four Hartford players had an average position inside Memphis’ half, and not very far upfield. And in the heat map below, Seagrist and Buckmaster had an enormous amount of touches in the attacking side of the pitch, more so in the first half, but that continued into the second half as well.

(Credit: USL)
(Credit: USL)

And the team put on a clinic while resting top scorer Phillip Goodrum. Not a bad day at the office, reflected by 901 Fc’s 21 shots (15 inside the box) to Hartford’s 10. And Molloy nabbed himself another spot in the USL’s Team of the Week.

The win moves the team up to 14-5-3 on the season, and third in the Eastern Conference standings. Next up is a trip to the Steel City to face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, August 13th. And the break should give head coach Ben Pirmann time to incorporate new signing Jackson Brady, who signed a 25-day contract with the team on Monday.

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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Takes Three Points in New York

Jeremy Kelly opened the scoring in a 2-1 away win for Memphis. (Credit: USL/New York Red Bulls II)

As Aaron Molloy’s 70th-minute cross curved closer to Phillip Goodrum, most fans could be forgiven for already being on their feet. For if there’s one sure thing this season, it’s that Goodrum is just going to keep on sticking the ball in the back of the net. But long before the forward headed in his 13th goal of the season, it was pretty clear that 901 FC’s winning ways would continue on a trip up East to challenge New York Red Bulls II. Before some hasty retyping during the last few minutes of the game, the bulk of my report simply detailed how easy it all was for Memphis. A late consolation goal for New York brought up a few nerves, but it didn’t really matter; Memphis was always the dominant side during a 2-1 victory at MSU Soccer Park.

Really, the game was all but wrapped up by halftime. But with one caveat: Somehow, Memphis had only managed to score one goal! After a first half in which 901 FC opened fire on the New York net, the boys in the white away kits had somehow only managed to score once. The first 10 minutes were a clear indication of Memphis’ dominance, with 901 FC recording a staggering 70 percent of possession and some nice passing sequences to get into good scoring positions.

The 17th minute opener followed one such passage, midfielder Chris Allan eventually finding a streaking Jeremy Kelly in the box, who despite sprinting all the way upfield, looked like he had all the time in the world as he steadied himself and shot past Red Bulls keeper Giannis Nikopolidis at the near post to make it 1-0 to Memphis.

All the while, Goodrum made himself a menace with a few good chances, and others chipped in as well. 901 FC’s sheer dominance, in terms of possession, winning the ball back, and locking down any Red Bull attacks never truly put the performance in doubt. In fact, New York only really had one chance of note coming in the 2nd half, with Zachary Ryan poking the ball wide in a 1v1 situation in the 60th minute. Otherwise, center backs Zach Carroll and Graham Smith, along with fullbacks Rece Buckmaster and Patrick Seagrist, locked down almost every New York incursion with ease.

And Goodrum scored what would be the eventual winner in the 70th minute, cushioning a header from Aaron Molloy’s cross past Nikopolidis. That made it a lucky 13 goals for Goodrum this season, and his fourth game in a row with a goal.

Then in the 76th, Seagrist rolled the ball across the box for substitute Derek Dodson, who just missed out on connecting for a tap-in, and the forward then couldn’t quite finish immediately after when pouncing on some slack New York passes. But shoutout to Dodson, who did what any good sub should do and made the most of all of his touches. Out on the right side, he had his way with the New York backline, frequently winning challenges, turning his marker and charging in behind, and delivering into the box to create chances for his teammates.

And honestly, other than missed chances, it was about as comprehensive a performance as you’ll see, the win almost as straightforward as they come. New York’s high defensive line and scattered pressing was suicidal against a team as adept to moving the ball upfield as Memphis. And even when a couple of the starters subbed out, the new blood kept the game ticking over nicely. After dominating possession in the first half, the second 45 saw Memphis take their foot off the gas a bit and swat away what little New York threw at them.

Of course, this is still soccer, so in the 87th, New York broke from their own half and charged into open space, Jordan Adebayo-Smith calmly finishing past Trey Muse to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Memphis quickly reasserted themselves just two minutes later, with Laurent Kissiedou playing in Dodson to a huge swathe of space on the right side of the box, but substitute David Egbo unfortunately couldn’t make a proper connection on his teammate’s inch-perfect cross. Egbo continued to get into good positions and had another late chance saved by Nikopolidis.

Ultimately, New York just didn’t really do enough to test Memphis. Now, 901 FC are up to third in the Eastern Conference, and next up this Saturday are Hartford Athletic at AutoZone Park.