Oct. 20, 2003

Memphis, Tenn. - University of Memphis women's soccer forward Yuiko Konno earned Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts in a pair of home victories by the Lady Tigers this past weekend at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Konno is the first Lady Tiger to claim the offensive honor since Jessica Gjertsen in October of 2000. Former Lady Tiger goalkeeper Katarina Wicksell earned the weekly defensive honor last season.

"Yuiko has been a great addition to our team," Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "She has been a difference make this season and that is exactly what we brought her in here to do. We are playing our best soccer of the year right now and she is a big reason for that."

Konno tallied three goals and an assist as Memphis captured its first two C-USA wins of the season with a 4-0 blanking of Tulane and 3-2 overtime victory against Southern Miss. The two victories vaulted the Lady Tigers (5-7-3, 2-4-1 C-USA) five spots from the bottom of the league standings into a tie for ninth with Charlotte. The top eight teams qualify for the C-USA Tournament to be held in Charlotte Nov. 5-8.

The Japan native set up the game-winning goal in the Tulane match with her third assist of the season and added her eighth goal of the campaign two minutes into the second half. She backed that performance up with two goals in the Southern Miss match including the game-winner in overtime when she headed in a rebound off the crossbar. It was Konno's third game-winner of the season and her 10 goals are tied for the second most in Conference USA.

Konno has led a Memphis offensive charge that has outscored its opponents 15-5 as the Lady Tigers have won four of its last five matches. The Lady Tigers conclude their home schedule with a C-USA match against USF Friday at the MRSC. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.