Sept. 22, 2002

Box Score

Memphis, Tenn. - Memphis won a see-saw battle against East Carolina Sunday in women's soccer action as sophomore Kirsty Marr provided the game-winning goal for the Lady Tigers (4-2-1, 1-1-0) who beat the Pirates 3-2 at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The victory salvaged a split for the Lady Tigers in their Conference-USA opening weekend matches after they fell to Saint Louis 4-0 on Friday.

"That was a big win for us after a disappointing loss to Saint Louis Friday," Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "It was an interesting game, but I thought we played well and showed that we are a pretty good team. We bounced back and got this first conference win under our belt which will give us confidence as we get ready for a road trip."

After each team went scoreless for the first 35 minutes, East Carolina took its only lead of the game at 1-0 on a goal by Melissa Penney in the 36th minute. However, it took the Lady Tigers just five minutes to answer when senior Anna Thorsdottir lifted a shot from the far right wing over the head of ECU goalkeeper Lauren Church into the far corner of the goal. Freshman Nicky McLeod was credited with the assist on Thorsdottir's goal in the 42nd minute.

Memphis kept up its offensive attack before the half and grabbed a 2-1 lead just a minute and half later when Mary Shelton headed a free kick from midfielder Susannah Wells past ECU goalkeeper Lauren Church. It was Shelton's first goal of the season.

The drama did not end there, as East Carolina took advantage of a Memphis miscue when Lady Tiger midfielder Alison Baker deflected a shot by ECU forward Amanda Duffy into the Lady Tigers' goal. The own goal by Baker squared the match at two and set the stage for an exciting finish.

On the Tigers' eighth and final corner kick of the match, Wells lofted a ball into the goal box that senior Becca Amrozowicz flicked onto Marr who lifted the ball over Church for her first goal of the season in the75th minute. That proved to be the eventual game-winner as the Lady Tiger goalkeeper Katarina Wicksell stuffed a late-scoring chance by the Pirates in the final seconds of the match.

For the match, Wicksell had three saves and sweeper Jocelyn Raine was credited with a team. Church had two saves in goal for the Pirates as Memphis outshot the visitors 17-11.

Memphis takes to the road this upcoming weekend for a pair of C-USA matches. On Friday, Sept. 27, the Lady Tigers face Louisville at 7 p.m. CST and on Sunday, Feb. 29, Memphis will face Charlotte at 1 p.m. EST.