
Women's Soccer Falls 3-0 To Ole Miss
Sep 10, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 10, 2006
Final Stats
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OXFORD, Miss. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team was unable to ride the momentum of its 2-0 win over Mississippi State on Friday, falling on the road Sunday at Ole Miss 3-0.
"I was a little disappointed in the way we came out and started the game," said Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan. "We have to learn that we can't come out flat and expect to win the match."
The Memphis offense, which had been so present even in the Lady Tigers two previous losses, struggled to get on track early in Sunday's match, and the Rebels held Memphis to just two shots in the first half.
Ole Miss took the lead 10 minutes into the match with a goal from Hannah Weatherly, who knocked in an assist from Christine Liberto. The Rebels increased the score to 2-0 in the 27th minute after Brittany Potts registered her third goal of the season. Potts drilled the ball from 20 yards out, sailing it over the head Memphis goalkeeper Isabel Briones.
In the second half Memphis' offense began to show signs of life, and the squad came dangerously close to scoring on several occasions. The Lady Tigers out shot Ole Miss seven to five in the second half and were able to generally keep the action near the Rebels' goal.
Memphis' best scoring opportunity of the day came seven minutes in to the second half when Shoko Mikami found freshman Eliza Wellford in the box on a free kick. Wellford redirected Mikami's kick toward the net, but Ole Miss keeper Ann Shelton was there for the save.
Minutes later Mikami got another free kick from thirty yards out. The senior went directly for the goal, bending the ball just out of the reach of Shelton but off of the left post.
The Rebels tacked on their final goal with eight minutes remaining in the contest as Weatherly pressed an Ole Miss counterattack and found Amanda Verkin on a crossing pass.
Despite the loss, Monaghan was happy with the way his team played in the last half of the match and has high hopes for his squad's future.
"I was proud of the way we fought back in the second half after being down 2-0," said Monaghan. "I think the game was a little closer than the score showed, but Ole Miss is a good team. Win or lose, this was a good game to help prepare us for the conference season."
The Lady Tigers (3-3) will be back in action Thursday when they return home to face Southeast Missouri at 7 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.