April 3, 2006

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 678-2444

DECATUR, Ala. - Junior Shoko Mikami scored a hat trick and transfer Geneil Newbern scored three goals as the University of Memphis women's soccer team walloped the Region III ODP and Kennesaw State by a combined 8-2 margin on Sunday.

Memphis beat Region III ODP 5-1 in the first game and followed it up with a 3-1 victory over Kennesaw State. The two exhibition victories give the Lady Tigers a 5-1-1 record in spring competition with two remaining games on the schedule.

"I'm pleased with our performance on the weekend," said Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan. "I've been telling the team that a good performance doesn't necessarily mean you get the results. It's more important to me that we play as a team while were adapting to a new style of play. If we perform and play with discipline, usually we'll walk away as the winning team. I can honestly say that everybody played well this weekend."

Mikami scored a hat trick with three goals in the 5-1 thumping of the Region III ODP team. The Lady Tigers were up 2-1 at the half before scoring three second half goals. Newbern scored the first of her three goals on the day in the game and freshman Kylie Hayes also added a goal.

Against Kennesaw State, Memphis fell behind early and went to the half with a 1-1 tie before pulling away with two goals in the second half. Newbern scored two goals in the game and freshman Laura Pfeffer added the third.

"Kennesaw State is a strong program," Monaghan said. "We came out flat in the beginning but were able to compose ourselves and finish strong."

The Lady Tigers will end its spring schedule on Sunday with a doubleheader against Columbus State at 10:30 a.m. and Georgia ODP at 1:30 p.m. in Oxford, Miss.

"We had two good games this weekend and we have two games left," said Monaghan. "I'm pleased overall with the spring we've had and the progress the team has made toward what we want to accomplish in the fall with our new system. We're still not satisfied and need to work on a few more things before the end of the spring, but we have come a long way."