Memphis Grinds Out 1-0 Win over Alabama

Friday, August 21

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM CT

University of Memphis

1-0

Alabama

0-1

Alabama

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Aug 21, 2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Elizabeth Woerner scores game winner in collegiate debut

Freshman Elizabeth Woerner scored in the 22^nd minute and Memphis played smothering defense to outlast Alabama for a 1-0 win Friday night at Mike Rose Soccer Complex in the season opener for both teams. The win over the Crimson Tide is the sixth consecutive for the Tigers.

"This was not the greatest performance and not the prettiest game," Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "Its not always going to look pretty but I was proud of the girls and the heart and the effort. There are some things we have to sure up moving forward but a win is a win and anytime you can get it over an SEC team or quality opponent you take it."

The game's lone goal came from a great cross by Necee Jennings from the left wing that Woerner, playing in her first collegiate game, headed back across the goal and into the corner after out-jumping the Crimson Tide defenders.

"It's really amazing. We worked so hard in preseason and it has paid off in this game," Woerner said. "We're still not quite there yet but we're going to get there. Throughout preseason we've been working on getting out wide, get a cross in and get a goal. That's exactly what happened tonight."

Neither team grabbed control of the game through the opening minutes but the goal helped to change the game. Memphis was the more dominant team for the final 23 minutes of the first half.

The second half started slowly but as the game wore on Alabama was forced to push forward.

Despite Alabama pressing for a goal late in the second half, Memphis' junior goalkeeper Maryse Bard-Martel was rarely called on to make a save. She made just three saves in the match and faced only eight total shots.

Senior defenders Marissa Duguay, Elysia Masters and Diamond Simpson were dominant in helping Bard-Martel to keep the clean sheet.

"We knew today's game was going to be a battle," said Masters. "We beat Alabama with 10 players last year and it there was a lot of tension and fire. Everyone was pumped for this game. It's been building for a year. We knew we had to fight tonight and we did it."

The Tigers scored all three of their goals in preseason from set pieces and tonight despite having six corner kick opportunities weren't able to bag an insurance goal.

Memphis fired 11 shots towards the Alabama goal and forced the Tide's 'keeper Emily Rusk to make six saves.

Following the tough match tonight the Tigers will have a week before the next opponent. Memphis will travel to Birmingham, Alabama to play Samford August 28 at 7:00 p.m. before a match at UAB, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m.