Sept. 12, 2002

Memphis, Tenn.-- - Off to the best start in school history, the University of Memphis women's soccer team will look to improve its 2-0-1 record when the Lady Tigers face Evansville (0-3-1) and Mississippi State (2-3-0) in a pair of non-conference home matches this Friday and Sunday, respectively, at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

The Lady Tigers opened the season with a tournament title at the FAU Kickoff Classic and followed that performance with a 3-0 blanking of Northeastern last Friday. Memphis has allowed just two goals in three matches this season and have outshot its opponents 66-21. Sophomore Leanne McGee and senior Alison Baker lead the team with five points as both players have two goals and an assist on the season.

The matches against the Purple Aces and the Bulldogs will be the final tune-ups before Memphis hosts Saint Louis on Friday, Sept. 20, in its first Conference-USA match of the season.

"Our kids are looking forward to this weekend," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "Both of these teams beat us last year and our kids want to show that we are the better team. We're anxious to get out there and see what we can do."

Memphis holds a 1-2 all-time record against Evansville and is 2-3-2 all-time against Mississippi State. The Lady Tigers dropped both decisions to the respective school's last season including a 4-3 overtime loss to the Bulldogs in Starkville to end their season. The Purple Aces defeated Memphis 2-0 in a match on their campus last September.

The Lady Tigers will host a pair of conference matches the following weekend, Sept. 20-22, against the Bilikens on Friday at 7 p.m. and against East Carolina on Noon Sunday. Both matches will be at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.