Nov. 5, 2008

Box Score

Quarterfinals C-USA Championships: UAB Box Score

HOUSTON, TEXAS. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team took down the No. 7 seed UAB Blazers for the second game in a row with a 2-0 victory in the first round of the 2008 C-USA Women's Soccer Championships on Wednesday night. Memphis has improved its season record to 13-4-2.

"I'm very pleased with the way we played all over the field," said head coach Brooks Monaghan on the Lady Tigers' first round performance. "Everybody stepped up and did a great job. That's what it takes to win championships."

The Lady Tigers outshot the Blazers 11 to five in the first half, but could not connect in the first 45 minutes of play. The score was sent to halftime with a 0-0 tie. Junior Laura Laufenberg broke the tie as she connected on her third goal of the season in the 74th minute of the second half. The assist was credited to freshman forward Lizzy Simonin as she delivered the ball from the center at the top of the box to Laufenberg on the left corner of the box for the score over the outstretched goalkeeper's hand.

"Elise (Kuhar-Pitters) came up big time for us with a couple of saves in the first half she kept the game even, said Monaghan on the play of his goalkeeper in the first half."

In the 83rd minute, Simonin would connect on a goal of her own as she received the ball just inside left side of the box from freshman Lizzy Hildebrandt. Simonin's ninth goal of the year put the Lady Tigers up 2-0.

"I said all season and before the tournament that any team in this conference can beat anyone else. Today was no easy game at all."

The Memphis offense scored two goals on 24 shots and defense held strong only surrendering nine in the match while keeping the Blazers scoreless. The backfield was led by the solid defensive effort from sophomore Kelsey Bakker.

"I thought it was a phenomenal overall performance by our team. We also had great individual performances by Kelsey Bakker who was spectacular tonight."

"We had a few more chances that we wish that we had finished, but we'll take this one and enjoy this one tonight and move on to the winner of the next game UCF or Rice.

Monaghan and his Lady Tigers have a day off Thursday and will prepare to take on the winner of the fourth game of the first round No. 3 UCF and the host No. 6 Rice in the semifinal round.

"We're just focused on ourselves right now," said Monaghan. "We're taking it one game at a time. Both teams we would play are very good and it will be a tough game either way. When this game is finished we will begin to prepare for who we have to play on Friday."

The Memphis squad will be in action again against either UCF or Rice on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. back at Rice Soccer and Track Stadium in Houston, Texas.