The University of Memphis men's soccer team earned a 3-2 victory over RV North Carolina on Monday, snapping a drought that had lingered since 2018.
A Milestone at the Mike Rose Complex
Playing on their home turf, the Tigers exploded for three goals in the opening half, establishing a commanding lead that would prove decisive.
Renan Syrio opened the scoring and later added an assist, while Eben McIntyre contributed both a goal and an assist, marking the third time in his career he had achieved that combination.
Henrique Cruz delivered a cross that Carson Banham finished, giving the team its second goal, and later recorded his first collegiate assist, while Kynu Samuels provided a bench assist that set up the third tally.
North Carolina answered with a strike from Joschi Schelb, cutting the deficit to 2-1, but Memphis responded quickly with two more goals before halftime, including a finish by Banham that marked his first collegiate marker.
The match saw three yellow cards, including to Memphis' Keanan Bader and Cruz, but the Tigers held firm defensively, with Noah Kasin making four saves, including his first as a Tiger.
The win represents Memphis' first victory over an ACC opponent since a 2-1 win at Wisconsin in 2011 and marks the first home win at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex since October 2018, a milestone that underscores the program's resurgence.
With five points from two matches, Syrio remains the team's leading scorer, and the early-season triumph offers a promising outlook as the Tigers look to build momentum heading into the remainder of the schedule.