Tigers blank Samford for fourth shutout of season

Monday, September 3

Birmingham, Ala.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

4-1

Samford

1-4

Memphis

Samford

Photo by: Michael Wade

Sep 03, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An offensive surge in the first half coupled with a strong defensive effort led Memphis women's soccer to a 3-0 shutout against Samford Monday night at the Samford Track and Soccer Complex.

The Tigers (4-1-0) found a pair of goals early in the first half, and then added a goal in the final 45 minutes to collect their fourth shutout of the season.

"I was pleased. I thought it was a great team effort," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "Samford is a very good program. They are especially good at home, so I was pleased with the girls' effort. I thought the kids did a great job with the game plan and we're happy with the result."

Sophomore forward Clarissa Larisey found the back of the net twice in the first half for the early advantage. In the 11^th minute of action, Larisey collected the ball inside the box and pushed it past the keeper for an early score.

The Ottawa, Ontario, native then struck again in the 22^nd minute when senior Marie Levasseur found an open Larisey, whose strike connected in the top left corner of the net for her fifth goal of the young season.

"Lari is a special player. It's been fun to watch her grow over the past year," Monaghan added of the sophomore standout. "We still believe she has a lot more room to grow. It's a big performance any time you score a couple goals. I thought she did well for us tonight."

Memphis continued the offensive attack with a goal in the 51^st minute of the second half. Samantha Murphy, who celebrated her birthday Monday, kept the ball at the top of the box and fired it past the keeper for her second score of the season and set the 3-0 final.

Defensively, the Tigers limited the Bulldogs (1-4-0) to seven shots with just one on target. Sophomore Elizabeth Moberg tallied her seventh career shutout in goal for Memphis, collecting a late save to maintain the clean sheet.

Memphis returns to action Friday at the Rice Tournament. The Tigers open the weekend with host Rice on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before capping the weekend against Louisiana at 11 a.m. on Sunday.