Tag: 901 FC

Categories
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.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Draws Away to Indy Eleven

Phillip Goodrum, left, scored his 12th goal of the season to earn Memphis a point on the road. (Credit: USL/Indy Eleven)

It’s quite amazing how unbothered 901 FC can consistently look as they soak up (usually nonthreatening) pressure against most opponents. And when they recover possession, it looks like FIFA as they string passes together, break the press, and find themselves with an overwhelming numbers advantage heading into the opposing final third. Of course, their work in possession isn’t bad either (which is mostly what we saw in Indiana) when it’s called for, and that’s a credit to coach Ben Pirmann, who was recently nominated for the USL mid-season coach of the year. Probably goes without saying that he should receive a nice pay bump for the work he’s done so far.

Last Saturday, Indy Eleven was set to provide a different kind of challenge from what Louisville posed the week before. Our Kentucky opponents, #1 in the Eastern Conference, on July 16th played like they had a higher floor than most USL team’s ceilings. Indy, meanwhile, hadn’t been able to score in quite a long time. But anything can happen in soccer, which is why we love the sport. 901 FC had the first swing, with Luiz Fernando hitting the crossbar in the fourth minute, with a couple follow-ups also failing to find the back of the net. And a few lucky bobbles just minutes later went Indy Eleven’s way as they took the lead in the ninth minute, scoring their first goal in 459 minutes (wow!). And to compound our misery, Fernando hit the post after cutting in and unleashing a curler. Sometimes things just don’t go your way. And in the 22nd, some slick interplay in crowded spaces ended with Chris Allan slotting it past Sean Lewis, only for the offside flag to pop up.

But in the 23rd, Memphis finally did equalize with an incredible play across the board. A lofted through ball found Rece Buckmaster completely alone in the Indy box. The defender froze to draw out Lewis, and then stealthily slid a ball close to the back post for Phillip Goodrum to poke in for his 12th goal of the season. Fernando was then at it again in the 30th, cutting back in onto his left and forcing a good save from Lewis. And a minute later, Fernando played an inch-perfect pass to Derek Dodson, who shot straight at Lewis.

And that was pretty much the tale of the first half. Memphis’ attack factory churned out chance after chance. Indy’s strong press faded after the start, and all the chances were going 901 FC’s way. Such was the direction of traffic that fans could be forgiven for scratching their heads and wondering how we’d only scored once.

Indy’s press did come back out to start the second half, but whenever they threatened danger, a Memphis defender was there to mop things up. And Niall Logue set up Fernando in the Indy box early on, but he underhit his pass to set up a teammate, seeing another good chance squandered. And Memphis just continued to carve their way through the Indy midfield and back line, with Fernando usually at the center of every passage. In the 90th minute, the ref frustratingly blew the whistle instead of playing an advantage which could have seen Memphis 2v2 against the Indy defense. In fairness, we saw that kind of call go both ways, which is annoying for both sets of fans. And in one late scare, Indy worked one last headed chance through Manuel Arteaga, but goalkeeper Trey Muse came up big with the save.

A draw was a very frustrating result for 901 FC, but the overall performance continued a fine string of form that Memphis has put together this season. All game long, the players picked Indy apart with surgical precision. The well-oiled midfield machine constantly worked the ball around onrushing defenders and out to the wings, where a rotating player would drive into the open half-spaces left by the Eleven’s press. There, they could either loft a ball past the Indy back line, as happened for Goodrum’s equalizer, or ping a couple of passes around in tighter spaces as they worked their way into the box. Both approaches worked, but a couple of times Memphis’ final ball just let them down. For now, Memphis remains in third in the Eastern Conference standings. And if you noticed, a return to a 32-page Memphis Flyer means we have room for soccer columns in our pages again! Our 901 FC coverage has been away for a while, but hopefully I’ll be back with you all again, dear readers, for our next match away to New York Red Bulls II on August 3rd.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

Thin 901 FC Squad Prevails Over Division Leaders Indy Eleven

Memphis goalscorer Kyle Murphy shields the ball from Indy Eleven defender Jared Timmer. (Photo: Courtesy Indy Eleven)

On the way up to Indianapolis, it was no surprise that there were a few empty seats on the Memphis 901 FC bus. Due to suspension, injury, and international duty, the team was missing a total of six players. Much of the pre-match chatter didn’t give Bluff City much of a chance, but try telling that to the players. In adverse circumstances, 901 FC showed grit and character to produce an excellent 2-1 victory over former conference leaders, Indy Eleven.

Blitzkrieg Attack

Kadeem Dacres had been the catalyst for everything good coming out of 901 FC offensively. But with Dacres having picked up a second yellow card and dismissal in the last match for simulation, head coach Ben Pirmann would have to plan for an attack without its fulcrum. Dacres’ return will only be a good thing for the team, but he almost wasn’t even missed as Memphis roared into the lead within three minutes. Laurent Kissiedou (later named to the USL Championship Team of the Week) took down a high ball with aplomb and turned before splitting the defense with a slick through ball for Michael Salazar, who took the ball into stride and finished calmly past Indy goalkeeper Jordan Farr.

Salazar was involved again in the 35th minute, pressuring Aboubacar Sissoko into a turnover and driving into the Indy box unimpeded. The ball eventually fell to forward Kyle Murphy, who gleefully accepted the chance and made it 2-0 to Memphis. Meanwhile, Kissiedou continued his fine run of form. Nominally a playmaker, the midfielder has pitched in at both ends of the field so far this season, providing some penetrating runs and passes up top and dropping back to shield the defense when out of position. He was unfortunate to miss out on a goal but was a constant thorn in Indy’s side all match with clever flicks and tricks. And if that wasn’t enough, fullback Mark Segbers pitched in, too, with one phenomenal run in the 56th to beat four defenders and get a shot away. There’s plenty of firepower here, and this team still hasn’t even had time to gel yet.

Midfield on Lock

Mitch Guitar got a first start of the season next to Leston Paul, and together, the two formed an impenetrable wall. They were hungrier for 50-50 balls, and routinely shut down any of Indy’s attempts at building an attack. When they did recover the ball, they weren’t afraid to do something with it either, as epitomized by Guitar’s solo run in the 77th minute before playing in Kissiedou for a chance.

Francis Atuahene, for his part, acted as an effective ball shuttler for his 67 minutes on the field. Whenever he’d receive the ball under pressure, it was more likely than not that he’d turn his way out of trouble and charge into the open field ahead of him. He, Guitar, and Paul were crucial in acting as the springboard of Memphis’ attack, turning defense into offense in the blink of an eye. And whenever Indy did break through their screen, the defense, and fullback Andre Reynolds in particular, completely shut down whatever Indy was able to throw at them.

Of course, Indy did find a way through with a scrappy goal in the 96th minute to pull back a consolation. And there has to be a mention of Indy forward Manuel Arteaga’s howitzer strike in the 16th minute that the ref didn’t see go over the line. That was a big blow to Indy’s confidence, but sometimes the breaks don’t go your way. But on the balance of play, this was Memphis’ win.

Youth Movement

A lack of available players might have impeded 901 FC’s chances on another day, but this time around it was a sweet moment for two of the organization’s academy players. Tycho Collins and Collierville High School’s Matt Brucker both took to the field in stoppage time for their first-ever professional appearances. There wasn’t a whole lot of time left, but it will certainly be a moment to savor in their young careers.
Memphis 901 FC faces Louisville City away next Saturday, June 12th, at 6:30 p.m.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

Michael Salazar Joins Memphis 901 FC Attack

(Memphis 901 FC)

Memphis continued its pre-season roster building with a forward-thinking addition to the squad.

Belizean Michael Salazar is the latest face to join up with Memphis at AutoZone Park, forming the third prong of a promising attacking trident that also features new signings Kyle Murphy and Roland Lamah.

“We’re thrilled to have Michael join us for the 2021 season,” said 901 FC sporting director Tim Howard. “He is a highly talented and experienced international striker and another quality addition to our dynamic attacking group.”

The attacker brings extensive experience to the 901 FC organization; he had collegiate success for both Cal Baptist and UC Riverside before kickstarting his professional career in 2016, being drafted 24th in the MLS SuperDraft by the Montréal Impact. While frequently playing for the team’s USL affiliates, he made a total of 36 appearances for the top-level side, tallying six goals and two assists. He also made 11 appearances for MLS side Houston Dynamo FC in 2019.

Salazar also suits up for the Belize national team, for which he’s made 14 appearances and scored one goal. He’s represented his country in international tournaments such as the Gold Cup, Copa Centroamericano, and the CONCACAF Nations League.

Check out a glimpse of Salazar’s attacking prowess here.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

Midfielder Kadeem Dacres Joins Memphis 901 FC Roster

CREDIT: Hayden Schiff from Cincinnati, USA, CC BY 2.0

This afternoon, Memphis 901 FC announced the signing of veteran midfielder Kadeem Dacres pending league and federation approval.

The midfielder has eight years of USL experience under his belt, with time spent at clubs such as Arizona United (now known as Phoenix Rising), Louisville City SC, FC Cincinnati, and most recently Saint Louis FC. Hayden Schiff from Cincinnati, USA, CC BY 2.0

Kadeem Dacres during a U.S. Open Cup match for FC Cincinnati in 2017

During the course of his career, Dacres has logged 176 appearances and more than 10,000 minutes, and holds a tally of 18 goals and seven assists.

“Kadeem will provide us with pace and a constant attacking threat on the wing as well as a high work rate,” said 901 FC sporting director Tim Howard. “His ability and high-level experience in the USL make him an exciting addition to our roster.”

Dacres joins new signing, goalkeeper John Berner, as well as returnees Mark Segbers, Dan Metzger, and Zach Carroll.

And here’s a sample of what the midfielder can do.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

Memphis 901 FC Signs Goalkeeper John Berner

CREDIT: By Noah Salzman - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61396917

Memphis 901 FC added yet another name to its burgeoning roster for the upcoming 2021 USL season.

The latest acquisition is goalkeeper John Berner, pending league and federation approval.

The ’keeper began his professional career when selected 35th in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids, where he made five appearances before joining USL affiliate Charlotte Independence on loan. Berner made 38 appearances for the club, and kept 12 clean sheets over the course of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

By Noah Salzman – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61396917

John Berner warms up during a 2017 appearance with the Colorado Rapids

“The club is thrilled to be adding a player of John’s experience and quality to the roster,” said sporting director Tim Howard. “He’s a proven shot-stopper with both MLS and USL experience, and we are looking forward to having him with us this season.”

Since playing for Charlotte, Berner has racked up USL experience with Phoenix Rising, Oklahoma City Energy FC, and most recently with Saint Louis FC last season.

Berner joins the squad alongside returnees Zach Carroll, Mark Segbers, and Dan Metzger.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

Memphis 901 FC Learns League Alignment, Division Opponents for USL 2021 Season

Mark Segbers will line up for 901 FC in its home opener against Atlanta United 2 on June 16th. (901 FC/Eric Glemser)

Old foes, and some slightly less familiar faces, will test Memphis 901 FC’s mettle come kickoff this season.

Earlier today, the USL Championship announced its plans for league alignment during the 2021 regular season. This year, the championship will see 31 teams spread across four divisions and two conferences. Each club’s campaign will see them play a 32-match schedule conducted over the span of 27 weeks.

Eric Glemser

Fullback Mark Segbers is one of two officially announced 901 FC players who will be returning this season.

901 FC finds itself in the Central Division, where it will face off against six-time Eastern Conference finalist Louisville City FC; regional rivals Indy Eleven, Atlanta United 2, and Birmingham Legion FC; and FC Tulsa, OKC Energy FC, and Sporting Kansas City II to round out the group.

During the season, 901 FC will play its division opponents four times — two matches at home, and two matches away. With division matches accounting for only 28 games, 901 FC will play its remaining four matches against either regional or cross-conference opponents, yet to be determined.

The full 2021 USL regular season schedule has not been released yet, but opening day is scheduled for a flexible start date of May 1st (however, clubs may begin play anywhere between April 24th and May 15th).

Defender Mark Segbers and midfielder Dan Metzger are the only two officially confirmed 901 FC players to be returning next season. Meanwhile, Ben Pirmann, who took over after the dismissal of Tim Mulqueen last year, still holds the title of interim head coach.

Stay tuned for more updates regarding player news and scheduling announcements.

See below for other USL Division alignments:

Eastern Conference                                                        Western Conference
Atlantic Division                                                              Mountain Division
Charleston Battery                                                            Austin Bold FC
Charlotte Independence                                                   Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Hartford Athletic                                                                El Paso Locomotive FC
Loudoun United FC                                                           New Mexico United
Miami FC                                                                          Real Monarchs SLC
New York Red Bulls II                                                       Rio Grande Valley FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC                                              San Antonio FC
Tampa Bay Rowdies

Central Division                                                                Pacific Division
Atlanta United 2                                                                  LA Galaxy II
Birmingham Legion FC                                                       Las Vegas Lights FC
FC Tulsa                                                                             Oakland Roots SC
Indy Eleven                                                                         Orange County SC
Louisville City FC                                                                Phoenix Rising FC
Memphis 901 FC                                                                Sacramento Republic FC
OKC Energy FC                                                                 San Diego Loyal SC
Sporting Kansas City II                                                       Tacoma Defiance

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

Memphis 901 FC Transfer Tracker – Triston Hodge Heads to Colorado

CREDIT: Eric Glemser/ Memphis 901 FC

Keep up with the latest player movements in and out of Memphis 901 FC during the offseason.

The 2020 USL season may be over, but the soccer world never stops moving. In the offseason, teams are always looking to make key reinforcements to the squad, as well as move on fringe players.

What will the 901 FC squad look like come next season? We’ve seen plenty of departures thus far, as well as a couple of returnees, but there’s plenty of time for the organization to carefully target the players it wants to pick up. Check back to this list for updates on player movement both in and out of the club over the next few months.

Eric Glemser/ Memphis 901 FC

Defender Triston Hodge helped see 901 FC through some defensive rough patches last season.

Tuesday, January 26th Update:

Outgoing Players

Triston Hodge, DEF

Technically, Triston Hodge’s time at 901 FC came to an end when his two-season loan deal expired back in November, whereupon he returned to his parent club in Trinidad & Tobago. Yesterday, however, it was officially announced that Hodge would not return to AutoZone Park, and would instead be joining Colorado Springs Switchback FC for the 2021 USL season. Hodge made 10 appearances each in 2019 and 2020, and while he didn’t manage to lock down a spot full-time, he was a member of some of the most settled Memphis defensive lines last year.

Previous News

Returning Players

Mark Segbers, DEF

Some great news to start 2021, as 901 FC announced that fullback Mark Segbers would return to the squad for the upcoming season. For most of 2020, Segbers stood out with commanding performances on the right flank. His history as a winger saw him bomb upfield time and time again, meshing well with attackers and always providing a penetrative threat, either by getting to the endline for cutbacks or providing a goal threat himself. While he was left out of several matchday squads at the end of last season for an unspecified team rules violation (along with several other players), Segbers (one goal and two assists in ten appearances), this is a good piece of business by 901 FC. And as an added bonus, he’s been gaining top-level experience the past few months while on loan with MLS side LAFC.

Dan Metzger, MID

Alongside Segbers, 901 FC announced that midfielder Dan Metzger would be returning to the fold as well. Metzger has been with 901 FC since its inaugural season, playing 26 games and scoring one goal in 2019. Last season, however, saw his play time limited, with the player making only four appearances (one as a starter) for a total of 134 minutes.

Outgoing Players


Keanu Marsh-Brown, FWD

This one stings a bit for me, personally. Keanu Marsh-Brown, who moved to Gloucester City A.F.C. in England on a free transfer, was a livewire during his season with 901 FC last year, always being a willing runner, providing an outlet to teammates, and never afraid to take a crack from distance. He carried the offense through parts of the season before Cal Jennings started scoring for fun. But the true tragedy here is that Marsh-Brown’s mother would like my live-tweeting of 901 FC matches. There goes my audience.


Pierre da Silva, FWD



On Thursday, January 14th, fellow Eastern Conference organization Miami FC announced that Memphis’ Pierre da Silva would be joining its roster. The former Orlando City SC forward joined 901 FC in August 2019, and was a regular member of the starting squad in his first season, making 11 appearances (all starts) as a winger and scoring one goal. Last season, however, Da Silva only made four appearances for 901 FC.

Rece Buckmaster, DEF

The versatile fullback and Auburn native returned home this week, having been unveiled as an Indy Eleven player. He joins former 901 FC teammate Cal Jennings in Indiana. Buckmaster was a consistent presence in the 901 FC backline last season, making 14 appearances (all starts) for a total of 1,260 minutes played. While his defensive potential still had some room to grow, he locked down the left back spot, filled in at right back when needed, and even chipped in with a goal and an assist. His departure, coupled with Marc Burch’s retirement, leaves Memphis a little thin on the left side of its defense.

Cal Jennings, FWD

This is a tough pill to swallow; one of fans’ biggest fears in the offseason was that red-hot striker Cal Jennings would sign with a different club. Sure enough, USL Eastern Conference rival Indy Eleven this morning announced the acquisition of the UCF graduate. Jennings was 901 FC’s top scorer in 2020, picking up 9 goals in 14 appearances (over a third of the team’s total goals scored). At the tail end of the season, the rookie was unplayable, consistently getting into excellent scoring positions and making opposing defenders look like traffic cones. And in a memorable season closer, he netted a hat trick against Birmingham Legion. No sugarcoating it; this is a big loss for Memphis.

Liam Doyle, DEF

This one happened a bit earlier in the season, but we’ll include it anyway. The Manx central defender, initially signed in August 2019, was dealt to San Antonio FC this September. In his first season, he emerged as a defensive rock next to captain Marc Burch in the center of defense, but this year, his performances dipped and he eventually lost his place in the starting lineup.

Marc Burch, DEF

901 FC’s first-ever captain called time on a long career that included MLS Supporter’s Shield and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles with D.C. United. Burch arrived in Bluff City in January 2019, and quickly stepped into a leadership role both on and off the pitch. His qualities were evident in his defensive role, but his sweet left foot also chipped in with a few goals during Memphis’ inaugural season. He missed a good chunk of the 2020 USL championship through injury, but his presence will be missed.

Tommy McCabe, MID

The midfielder arrived as a mid-season acquisition on loan from MLS club Cincinnati FC. He slotted in well to the Memphis midfield, providing a physical presence and some good passing in his seven appearances. We ultimately didn’t get to see too much from the defensive midfielder, with the player returning to his parent club at the end of the USL season.

Eric Glemser

Captain Marc Burch announced his retirement at the end of the 2020 USL season.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

USL Announces 2021 Season Format, Opening Dates

CREDIT: USL Championship

USL Championship

Following a Board of Governors meeting, the United Soccer League (USL) announced that teams would begin the 2021 season on or about May 1st.

As opposed to the usual Eastern and Western conferences, the league will see teams split into four separate divisions. A 32-game slate will run for 27 weeks, with the season expected to conclude in October, followed by playoffs in November.

To account for any necessary flexibility, the Board has approved teams to begin play anywhere between April 24th and May 15th. Stay tuned for specifics on Memphis 901 FC, as further details will be forthcoming over the next few months, but may be subject to changes due to COVID-19. The full release can be read below:

The USL Championship announced on Thursday following the league’s Board of Governors meeting that the 2021 regular season will begin on or about May 1, see the teams split into four divisions, and will contain a 32-game slate running across 27 weeks through the end of October with playoffs scheduled for November.

In voting for a flexible start date, the Governors have approved for clubs to begin play anywhere between April 24th and May 15th. Further announcements on scheduling, divisional alignment, and playoff structure will be made in the coming months, and the league will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 crises in the event that alterations to the format need to be made.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Ends on a High Against Birmingham

CREDIT: Eric Glemser

That’s a wrap, folks, as one of the weirdest sporting seasons in memory came to a close for 901 FC. Despite not having much left to play for, an action-packed 90 minutes at AutoZone Park saw standout performances from the Memphis squad, including a certain red-hot striker. When the dust settled, 901 FC watched the curtain fall after dismantling Birmingham Legion 3-1.

And as early as the 10th minute, 901 FC was setting the tone for how the rest of the game would play out.

Eric Glemser

Striker Cal Jennings wheels away in celebration with midfielder Duane Muckette after scoring the opener in Memphis’ 3-1 win over Birmingham.

After a Birmingham turnover, the ball made its way to midfielder Jose Baxter, who quickly turned and played a ball over the top for Cal Jennings to chase. The striker’s left-footed shot stung the palms of Birmingham goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg, but the blueprint was clear: Jennings would have spaces to attack.

That same duo was heavily involved as Memphis took the lead on 36 minutes. Baxter danced his way around the top of the box before slipping in fullback Rece Buckmaster down the right, whose first-time cross was poked home by the outstretched toe of Jennings.

The Legion equalized shortly before halftime, Bruno Lapa having a second bite of the cherry after collecting his own shot’s rebound off the post and slotting it past Jimmy Hague. But after the break, normal service resumed. On 54 minutes, Keanu Marsh-Brown seized on a poor cross-field pass from JJ Williams and headed the ball into Jennings’ path. After a few deft touches, the attacker made no mistake and made it 2-1 to Memphis.

At this point, it seemed that every time the ball fell Jennings’ way, Memphis would score. Baxter duly obliged this school of thought again in the 86th minute, cleverly backheeling a pass in front of the goalscorer, who brushed off his marker as if it were nothing and buried the shot to complete his hat trick.

The whistle blew at 3-1 in Memphis’ favor, the team’s second win in a row, both by the same scoreline. At the heart of it all? Cal Jennings. The University of Central Florida grad has dispelled any notions about who should be starting up top for 901 FC next year, with a ludicrous eight goals in his last four matches (nine goals for the season in 14 appearances). Along with signing a new head coach, retaining Jennings should be top priority in the offseason.

Eric Glemser

Captain Marc Burch announced his retirement upon the conclusion of 901 FC’s season

Behind the attack, Memphis’ midfield looked impressive for the full 90. Tommy McCabe has been an astute acquisition on loan, while Baxter put himself at the heart of every good move. They rotated seamlessly alongside Duane Muckette; every time one played a pass, there would always be two other passing options, creating triangles all over the pitch and allowing for quick ball circulation. Most intriguing, however, was the return (in my opinion) of peak Muckette. At his best, the Trinidadian international is a constant outlet, capable of breaking pressure and playing penetrative passes. He looked a bit off-color for most of the year, but reminded us of the immense quality he possesses.

Focus now shifts to the offseason, where the organization will have to make some big decisions on player acquisition and retention, including figuring out how to replace retiring captain Marc Burch.

For some deeper musings on how this season unfolded, be sure to pick up next Wednesday’s issue of the Flyer.