MEMPHIS — For the third time this season Central Arkansas forced overtime but came up just short, this time falling 2-1 in the 98th minute to the Memphis Tigers at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

The Bears (3-7), coming off consecutive wins for the first time this season, found themselves in a familiar position on Monday night – losing by a single goal for the sixth time on the year.

In the extra period, Memphis (3-6) held off a Bears attack that included three shots, the first two which were blocked and the third a header by Joseph Cervantes that had a chance to end it but was kept out of the net by Memphis goalkeeper Jordan Leedle.

Two minutes later, Liam Collins struck the game winner and sent the Tigers to their fifth straight win over the Bears.

UCA took the lead early in the game on a goal from Cervantes, his team-leading third of the season, in the 19th minute. Alex Ghaffari recorded his second assist of the season on the goal, and Conner Bowen picked up the first of his UCA career.

The Tigers drew into a tie on a Cody McCoy goal in the 37th minute against Greg Brooks, who had been inserted into the game in the 27th minute – replacing starter Ivan Zarate. It was the first game action for Brooks since the 2008 season, having redshirted in 2009.

Brooks went on to make three saves to preserve the tie and force overtime, including two in the second half.  Leedle made his lone save in the extra frame, as the Tigers limited the Bears to just six shots and two on goal. Memphis had 13 shots and six shots on goal in the win.

UCA is now 1-6 all time against the Tigers, with the lone win coming in 1999 – a 4-2 UCA victory. It was the fifth straight year for the Bears and Tigers to meet, and the first time the teams have gone to overtime. Memphis won 2-0 last season in, 5-1 in Conway two years ago, and 3-0 and 2-0 in the two years prior – both in Memphis.

The Bears return to play on Oct. 13 in Conway against Missouri Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois. The remainder of the Bears' schedule will be MVC play – the first year of conference play for UCA since moving to Division I in 2006.