Memphis Americans men quell the Rapids in NISL soccer
Women suffer first loss of the season in home tilt
The Memphis Americans men’s indoor soccer team battled past the Columbus Rapids 8-3 Sunday evening at the Landers Center, after the Americans women’s team dropped a 5-2 decision to the Rapids.
The men’s victory was the second straight for Memphis, improving the Americans’ record to 3-2 for the year. The women lost its first game of the year after four straight victories for the defending National Indoor Soccer League champions.
Sunday, Americans’ player-coach Corey Adamson and Maxi Galizzi each scored two goals and an assist, followed by Samuel Castro with a goal and an assist to lead the offense.
(Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Memphis had a 4-0 lead at halftime and added another goal in the third quarter before Columbus could find the back of the net for the first time.
Galizzi and Adamson would score again for a 7-1 lead before the Rapids scored again. Adamson’s second goal helped finish the game for the Americans at 8-2 before one final Columbus tally.
Galizzi, a native of Argentina, comes to the Americans after playing college soccer at Christian Brothers and the University of Memphis.
“He’s another scoring weapon we’ve added this year,” Adamson said.
Adamson later said he’ll take the win but thought his team could have performed better.
“The bounces still seemed to go our way, but we tried to do too many complex things, more complicated things than the way we could have,” Adamson said. “Columbus has a lot of talent. They came here a little short manned. If they come here with a full roster, it’s a lot closer and they would make us pay for some of the mistakes we made.”
Despite the loss, Columbus outshot Memphis 27-22. Both Memphis goalkeepers played, with Piotr Sliwa making 10 saves and no goals allowed in the first half. Southaven’s Matthew Klinck came in and made nine saves, but allowed three goals in the second half.
(Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
In the women’s game, Columbus took a 3-0 lead to the locker room at halftime and scored single goals in the third and fourth quarter in posting the victory.
Olivia Taylor scored two goals for the Rapids, followed by teammate Carlie Banks with a goal and two assists.
“They came in here with a very different game plan from when we saw them before,” Adamson said. “We had to try and make some adjustments to them. All five of Columbus’ goals came on counterattacks.”
Both Memphis goals cames in the third quarter when Cheyenne Smith scored and Molly Martin also found the back of the net.
Martin’s goal, her third of the season, brought the Americans within 3-2 Columbus at the time, but Memphis got no further.
“I haven’t a player who can mark 1-v-1,” Adamson about Martin. “I haven’t seen two players mark he 2-v-1. Having Mollie out there is phenomenal.”
Martin played four games for the Americans after completing her college career at Ole Miss last season and Sunday’s game was her second this season with the Americans.
Americans’ goalkeeper Angel Hailey of Southaven took the loss, despite Memphis outshooting Columbus 23-17. Hailey made nine saves but allowed four goals.
Columbus’ women avenged a 7-3 season-opening loss to the Americans at the Landers Center. The men’s victory was the second straight for Memphis over Columbus. The Americans took home the season opener in Southaven 5-1 over the Rapids.
The NISL schedule now gives both Americans’ teams nearly three weeks off before the next meeting, against Columbus again, but this time in Georgia on March 10.
Memphis’ next home games are Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, against the expansion Tampa Bay Strikers.
