Sept. 15, 2002

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It took just 31 seconds of overtime for freshman Nicky McLeod to give the University of Memphis women's soccer team a 3-2 victory over Mississippi State with a breakaway goal Sunday at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. McLeod chased down a pass from sophomore Monica Powell as she got behind the Bulldogs' defense to drill the game-winner past MSU goalkeeper Krystal Werges.

The victory for Memphis (3-1-1) avenged a 4-3 double-overtime loss to Mississippi State (3-4-0) last season and evened the all-time series with the Bulldogs at 3-3-2. The two teams have now gone into overtime in four of the eight all-time matches.

"I'm very, very pleased," Head Coach Brooks Monaghan said. "They did this to us last year, so it was nice to do it to them this year."

The Lady Tigers let a 2-0 lead slip away in the final minutes as MSU midfielder Ngum Suh squared the match at two in the 84th minute when she lifted a shot over the head of UM goalkeeper Katarina Wicksell.

"They took the momentum from us late in the game, but we told the girls to stay focused and get after them quick in overtime," Monaghan added. "Nicky had a break away and she finished it off. We still have to learn how to keep a lead, but we're getting better."

Freshman Robyn Smart broke a scoreless tie in the 36th-minute when her 25-yard blast cleared the outstretched arms of MSU goalkeeper Krystal Werges and deflected off the crossbar and into the net. Senior Alison Baker set Smart up for her first-career goal as she dribbled through traffic in front of the box to find the open Lady Tiger midfielder.

UM goalkeeper Katarina Wicksell played a large part in keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard in the opening half, as the junior stopped four MSU shots including two on spectacular diving saves. The Lady Tigers outshot the visitors 8-7 in the first 45 minutes forcing Werges to make three of her own saves.

Baker gave Memphis a 2-0 lead with her fourth goal of the season as sophomore Kirsty Marr provided the pass giving her a team-leading three assists. The Bulldog offense finally got a shot past Wicksell in the 64th minute, but it was not without a stingy effort by the UM goalkeeper who made a diving save but the carom went straight to MSU foward Amy Van Zandt who put it away for her fourth goal of the season.

Mississippi State outshot Memphis 19-15 including a 12-6 advantage in the second half. Wicksell ended the contest with a season-high eight saves while her counterpart Werges tallied six saves for the Bulldogs.

Memphis returns to action next Friday when the Lady Tigers open their Conference-USA schedule against Saint Louis. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.