Oct. 19, 2008

Box Score

Tulsa Box Score PDF

TULSA, OKLA. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team wins its fourth C-USA game in a row with a 4-2 win over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Sunday. Memphis has only three games remaining on their 2008 schedule and remains in second place in the C-USA standings with a record of (10-4-1, 6-2-0 C-USA).

"We were able to score the most goals that we've scored all season." said head coach Brooks Monaghan on today's contest. "We scored seven goals over the weekend and I am very pleased that we're finishing our chances. Our defense was suspect today, and we did not play up to our potential. We fortunately got a good result, but we are still striving to get better. We need to put together more solid performances if we expect to be competitive on a national level."

The Lady Tigers put up a season high four goal performance on Sunday and reached the 10 win plateau for the fifth year in a row.

"We're pleased with that," said Monaghan of another 10 win season for the Memphis women's soccer program. "It shows how far the program has come and our goal is to keep getting stronger. We played our hardest schedule yet this year and to get ten wins out of it shows where the program is."

Memphis sophomore defender and C-USA Defender of the Week Kelsey Bakker headed in her first goal of 2008 just under nine minutes into game giving the Lady Tigers the early 1-0 lead. Sophomore midfielder Vendula Strnadova was slightly off on a shot as it hit the post, but freshman forward Lizzy Simonin was there to put back the rebound past the Tulsa goalkeeper for her fifth score of her career. Simonin's goal put Memphis up 2-0 only 12 minutes into the contest.

The Golden Hurricane chipped into the lead as they scored 44 seconds after Simonin's goal; however, the Lady Tigers would strike again. At the 21 minute mark, sophomore forward Ashley Berra netted her second goal of the weekend and third of the season from 20 yards out making the score 3-1 heading into halftime.

Freshman Nikki Unland who registered four saves in the contest replaced fellow freshman Jordan Boyle in goal to start the second half for the Lady Tigers. Boyle registered two saves in the first period.

"Nikki Unland came in and she got the job done," said Monaghan of his second half goalkeeper. "We put her in and she came up with some big saves."

Tulsa again pulled within one score at the 72 minute mark, but the Lady Tigers would also find the net once more in the second half. At the 75 minute mark, Strnadova launched a free kick past the Tulsa keeper which put the game away and gave the Lady Tigers a 4-2 victory.

Strnadova has scored in the Lady Tigers' last four games and leads the team with six goals on the year.

"We're going to come back home and look forward to Friday which is senior night," said Monaghan. "We're still in good shape to meet our goal to win conference because we control our own destiny here. We have three more wins to go to get a championship, but won't be an easy task."

Memphis returns home on Friday for the annual "Senior Night". On Friday, Oct. 24 the Lady Tigers will battle the Marshall Thundering Herd at 6:00 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Four outstanding seniors, Kylie Hayes, Maggie Leone, Kate Murphy and Emiko Schwab will be honored during a pre-game ceremony. The Lady Tigers hit the road on Sunday as they take on the C-USA standings leader, (11-3-2, 6-0-2 C-USA) East Carolina Pirates at 12:00 p.m. in Greenville, N.C.