University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Women's Soccer Loses in Seminfinals
Nov 03, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 3, 2006
Dallas - In its first ever conference tournament semifinal the Memphis women's soccer team came up just short, falling to UAB 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout.
"I'm very proud of our team," said Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan. "We battled hard, and it was evenly matched game. I'm just sad that our seniors' careers had to end this way."
From the start of the match, both teams seemed determined to press the action. Despite several good opportunities for both clubs, the first half ended with the score 0-0.
UAB came out hot to start the second half and controlled most of the action for most of the first 20 minutes.
Memphis came precariously close to taking the lead at the 7-minute mark when Shoko Mikami snuck in behind the Blazer defense, but Katie Forbis made a nice save to keep the match scoreless.
The Lady Tigers almost scored again with four minutes left, when Maiko Higashiyama had two shots from point blank range.
The first overtime period was held more of the as Memphis missed close chance after close chance. The match was almost over right at the start of the second overtime, but Mikami banged a pass from Higashiyama just wide.
In the shootout Memphis fell behind when Mikami's penalty kick sailed high. Three shooters later, Forbis made a save on Roma Rozanska's kick to seal the win for UAB.
Memphis' record on the year moves to 11-6-3 with Friday's contest counting as a tie. It is the second most wins in program history, tying the team's total from 2004.
It was the final game for Memphis seniors Shoko Mikami, Geneil Newbern, Melissa Savage and Nicky McLeod.
"I'm so proud of our seniors," said Monaghan. "They've done so much to lift our program to level it's at now, and I'll always remember them for that."
