Feb. 25, 2004

Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team will open its spring season with a match against a traveling Japanese All-Star team Thursday at Echles Field before hosting the College Classic Cup Saturday at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The match with the Japanese all-star team is set for 7 p.m.

The match will give Memphis forward Yuiko Konno a chance to play against competitors from her native country of Japan. Konno was a First-team All-Conference USA selection following the 2003 season after leading the league with 12 regular season goals.

"This is going to be an exciting match for us on Thursday and I hope our fans will come out to support our team as well as the Japan team too," Head Coach Brooks Monaghan said. "Our girls have been praciticing hard this spring and will be ready for the challenge that this Japanese team is going to give us."

The Lady Tigers will play in three different 60-minute matches on Saturday at the College Classic Cup. A pair of Southeastern Conference teams highlight the schedule as Memphis will play Alabama at 9 a.m., Auburn at 12:30 p.m., then play the NSA Club team.

The Japanese All-Star team toured the University of Memphis on Wednesday and will remain in town to play in the College Classic Cup this weekend.