Tigers record ninth shutout of season in AAC win

Thursday, September 20

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

9-1-0 (1-0-0AAC)

Cincinnati*

5-4-1 (0-1-0AAC)

Cincinnati

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Sep 20, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Welcome home. In its return to Mike Rose Soccer Complex in nearly a month, Memphis women's soccer earned a 5-0 win against Cincinnati to open conference play.

The Tigers (9-1-0, 1-0-0) collected three goals in the first 45 minutes to set the tone, and another impressive defensive performance helped Memphis to its nation-leading ninth shutout of the season. In goal, sophomore Elizabeth Moberg tallied four stops en route to earning her ninth shutout of the season and 13^th clean sheet of her career.

"I'm very impressed with the girls tonight. Cincinnati, in my eyes, has been one of the toughest teams to play in our league. They have played a tough schedule," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "I was really impressed with the energy we brought, and you have to do that against a team like this."

For the second-straight game, Memphis scored in the 4^th minute of play. Elizabeth Woerner took a shot in the attacking zone that bounced around in front of the box. Samantha Murphy then settled the loose ball and fired it in the back of the net for the game's first goal.

Memphis struck again in the 23^rd minute when Clarissa Larisey pushed a pass to Murphy, and once again the sophomore was in perfect position to tally her second score of the night.

"As a team, we knew what we had to bring. Cincinnati is a good team," Murphy said. "We got two quick goals to set the tone. It took the whole team and it gave us the confidence we needed to put the score on the board that we did tonight."

The Tigers found one more score in the waning minutes of the first half. After a scrum off a corning kick, freshman Claire Abrey connected for her first goal of her career.

Memphis continued the pressure when sophomore Lisa Pechersky headed in a cross from Stasia Mallin for her first goal of the season. Memphis capped the scoring in the 88^th minute when Tanya Boychuk also registered her first collegiate goal off a set up from Olivia Gauthier and Marie Levasseur.

Defensively, Memphis limited the Bearcats (5-4-1, 0-1-0) to seven shots with four coming on goal.

"You have to keep talking and trusting your teammates. You have to make sure they are staying on their toes and staying on their marks," Moberg said of completing the defensive effort. "Making sure everyone is still communicating throughout the back and making sure everyone is picking up a man really keeps us in the game."

The Tigers return to the pitch Sunday to host ECU with kickoff set for noon.