Memphis blanks Ole Miss to close non-conference play

Sunday, September 16

Oxford, Miss

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

8-1, 0-0AAC

Ole Miss

7-3, 1-0SEC

Memphis

Ole Miss

Photo by: Eric Glemser

Memphis blanks Ole Miss to close non-conference play

Sep 16, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. – For the eighth time this season, Memphis women's soccer collected a shutout as the Tigers blanked Ole Miss 2-0 at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.

The Tigers (8-1-0) set the momentum with an early goal while the defense kept the nation's best offense off the board. In goal, Elizabeth Moberg registered a pair of saves and picked up her 12^th shutout of her career.

"This was a true team effort," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "So many players had fantastic performances. That's what it takes. Every kid that stepped on the field was phenomenal, and those who weren't in the game you could hear them. It was a good win tonight."

The Tigers struck quickly on offense, finding the game's first goal in the 4^th minute. Junior Stasia Mallin sailed a deep cross to senior Marie Levasseur in the box, who lobbed it over the keeper to get Memphis on the board and take a 1-0 advantage into halftime.

"That first goal really set the tone of the game. Tonight was going to come down to who wanted it more," Monaghan said. "To get that early goal gave us a boost we needed. The momentum carried from there."

Ole Miss (7-3-0) responded to open the second half with a pair of shots, but a save by Moberg kept the home team off the board.

The Rebels, who entered the match leading the country with 26 goals, were limited to 10 shots by the Memphis defense. The Tigers also handed Ole Miss its first shutout of the season.

"I thought our defense was phenomenal. They have some very special players. Our kids shut them down tonight," Monaghan said. "We had to play with an edge. Tonight we had to bring it and we did."

The Tigers began to shift momentum, pressuring Ole Miss keeper Marnie Merritt with shots until Memphis collected its second goal in the 69^th minute. Coming out of a timeout, Serena Dolan surged down the left side and fired a shot from just inside the 18-yard box. The shot sailed past the keeper and found the back of the net in the upper right corner for a 2-0 lead.

"The break gave both teams time to regroup. When we came back out, I got the ball and had some space and thought, 'let's go for it and see what happens,'" Dolan said. "When I took the first touch to set it up I felt like I knew it was going in."

Memphis returns to action at home on Thursday when the Tigers open conference play against Cincinnati. Kickoff from Mike Rose Soccer Complex is set for 7 p.m.