Americans open season with sweep of Columbus

MEMPHIS AMERICANS MEN 5, COLUMBUS RAPIDS 1: The Memphis Americans scored five straight goals after falling behind to the Columbus Rapids early in the Americans’ season-opening 5-1 victory Friday night at the Landers Center in Southaven.  

Erick Sanchez took the early lead at 1-0 for Columbus in the first quarter, but new Americans’ player Maxi Galizzi tied the game with a goal just about one minute later. 

Bernardo Ferreira scored what would be the eventual game-winning goal with three minutes left before halftime. Paulo Ndenzako, Corey Adamson, and Samuel Castro, added second half goals to complete the victory.  

Ferreira was named the number one star, Adamson number two and Galizzi was the number three star.

Petr Sliwa made eight saves on nine shots on net for the Americans. 

MEMPHIS AMERICANS WOMEN 7, COLUMBUS RAPIDS 3: In their first contest since winning the National Indoor Soccer League championship last season, the Memphis Americans women had to rally from behind to win its season opener over the Columbus (Ga.) Rapids.  

The Rapids actually held a 2-0 lead over the Americans after goals from Callie O’Connor and Carlie Banks. But Memphis came back to tie the game at 2-2 at intermission with goals from Lauren Odino-Draughton and Bailey Tadlock.  

The Americans broke the game open with five second-half goals, three in the third quarter and two more in the final quarter. Bruna Leiria, Kelsey Keown, and Bailey Tadlock found the net in the third, followed by Keown and Leiria again in the fourth quarter. 

Keown, with two goals and two assists on the night, was the number one star, followed by Leiria as the number two star and Tadlock as the third star of the game.  All three scored two goals each for the Americans in the victory.  

Goalkeeper Angel Hailey made nine saves on 12 shots on net in posting the victory.  

Both Memphis teams will play next at Tampa Bay on Feb. 5, meeting the expansion Strikers for the first time.