Oct. 15, 2006

Final Stats

EL PASO, Texas - After jumping out to a 3-0-1-conference start, the Memphis women's soccer team lost its second match of the weekend, this time dropping a 4-1 decision Sunday at UTEP.

Memphis (7-6-2, 3-2-1 C-USA) lost despite out shooting the Miners 24 to 10 and owning a 5-3 advantage on corners.

"Defensively we struggled today," said Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan. "I thought we played on offense. We had plenty of opportunities, but we couldn't capitalize. They really only had three good chances, and yet they came away with four goals."

The match was tied 0-0 at halftime, but in the second period UTEP was able to take advantage of several Lady Tiger defensive miscues.

Tameka Sumter put the Miners up 1-0 at the 51-minute mark when Memphis goalkeeper Isabel Briones came out of the box to play the ball. UTEP got the eventual game winner 30 seconds later when Jami Tullius headed in a free kick.

Memphis sophomore Maiko Higashiyama scored just past 59-minute mark to bring the Lady Tigers back to within one score. However, UTEP was able to pick up two more goals to take a three-goal lead.

"They got their first goal off of a mistake by us," said Monaghan. "We were able to score and bring it back to within one goal, but we let them score again and put the match away."

After four consecutive road games, Memphis will return home next week for a pair of matches at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The Lady Tigers will host Rice on Friday at 7 p.m. and will face Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m.

"We've got to bounce back," Monaghan said. "We're excited to return home next weekend. This was a tough road trip, and we would have liked to have gotten at least one win. If we do well next weekend we're right back in the hunt."