WHO: USF (3-1-4, 0-0-1) at Memphis (6-3-1, 1-1-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Mike Rose Stadium (Memphis, Tenn.)
LIVE STATS
GAME NOTES
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA – Brentton Muhammad likes to get after it.
USF's senior keeper has used an aggressive style to post a 0.65 goals against average that ranks second in the American Athletic Conference heading into the Bulls' test at Memphis 7 pm. Saturday.
“I think you can notice Brentton from anywhere in the stadium by way of which he commands the team vocally as a leader,” head coach George Kiefer said. “It's good communication and it's helpful information. It's not just motivating words. It's clear, concise instruction and he's doing a really good job of managing the team defensively.”
Muhammad, a graduate student from London, took over USF's keeper job the second game of the season – a 1-0 win over Stetson on Sept. 2 – and he's picked up right where he left off at Division-II Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned All-Sunshine State Conference honors three times.
“It was a weird case. My compliance officer said I had D-I eligibility, so I just put the word out that I was looking to play for my last year,” Muhammad said.
The Bulls got word about Muhammad from University of Tampa men's soccer coach Adrian Bush and the move has paid off big-time for a team that's looking to get back to the NCAA tournament for the seventh straight season. Muhammad has three shutouts to his credit through seven games and secured his latest one the last time out in USF's 3-0 win over California State Bakersfield on Tuesday.
“I'm just glad to get back on the pitch and do what I do best,” he said. “It's easy to get behind a defense that has a lot of experience.”
Keeper has been Muhammad's permanent position since he was 16, but the experience he's picked up at a number of other positions has helped him become the vocal leader USF was looking for early in the season. Muhammad tried his hand at striker, right midfielder, center midfielder, right back and center back before things really started to click for him in front of the net, thanks in part to his older brother, Garry, who played soccer as well.
“He always used to say, 'Go on and get in the goal,'” Muhammad said. “My brother kind of forced me into the position, but after a period of time I noticed I was reading the game faster.”
Anticipation is one thing, but Muhammad's favorite part of the gig is the end result.
“I like the look on the striker's face when you save the shot and just knowing you've done well,” he said.
Muhammad picked up his style from a keeper that many think is the greatest of all time in the sport. As a youngster, Peter Schmeichel caught Muhammad's eye while directing Manchester United to three trophies during the 1999 season. Schmeichel was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
“He was by far the most aggressive goalkeeper I've ever seen,” Muhammad said. “It was his presence that made him so good in my eyes. A presence carries more than what people tend to think about. I try to make myself as positive as I can around my teammates and keep the intensity level up.”
Kiefer said he appreciates Muhammad's style that will really come in handy now that the Bulls are getting into the full swing of the conference season.
“Right when he got here from Day 1, he was recognized as a guy that has the confidence and the swagger to be able to lead,” Kiefer said. “He's doing a good job of that.”
Watch Muhammad and the Bulls work Wednesday, Oct. 9, when they return to Corbett Stadium to host Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets HERE.
