Sept. 2, 2005

Box Score

Birmingham, Ala. - Despite limiting its opponent to just five shots in the game and doubling up its opponent in the shot department, the women's soccer team was unable to double up the Samford Bulldogs where it matters most, the scoreboard, as the Tigers dropped a 2-1 decision to Samford on the first night of the Long's Electronic's Samford Classic on Friday. Memphis evens its record at 1-1 on the year with the loss.

"Samford is an extremely good team," said Memphis coach Brooks Monaghan. "The game could have gone either way and we certainly had our chances. But you have to credit them because they got the job done on the scoreboard tonight. They are a good, well-organized team."

All the scoring came in the first half. The Bulldogs opened the scoring just 5:24 into the game when Sharon Young scored off an assist from Kim Matthews. Memphis tied up the game at the 23:43 mark when Shoko Mikami scored her third goal of the year. It came on a direct free kick, the second time she has scored a goal off a free kick this year, giving her back-to-back games with goals scored. She now leads the team with three goals and seven points on the year.

Samford went ahead 2-1 to stay at the 31:09 mark. Heather Birdsell scored an unassisted goal that came when she one-timed a deflection that went off a Memphis defender.

The Tigers outshot Samford 5-2 in the second half but were unable to net the equalizer. Memphis also outshot the Bulldogs 5-3 in the first half. Isabel Briones took the loss in goal for the Tigers, allowing both goals and making two saves. Samford put four of its five shots on goal while Memphis put five of its 10 shots on goal.

"We played a good game tonight," said Monaghan. "In soccer, sometimes you can play a good game and still lose. But we have to be patient with this team. We are young but we are certainly taking steps in the right direction. This game has prepared us well for conference play later in the year."

Memphis will stay in Birmingham for the weekend and will take on Evansville in its second game of the Long's Electronic's Samford Classic on Sunday. Game time is 11:30 a.m. Memphis, which defeated Evansville at home last year, is 2-3-1 in its history against the Purple Aces.