Tigers shutout Owls to open Rice Tournament

Friday, September 7

Houston, Texas

7:30 PM

University of Memphis

5-1-0

Rice

1-4-0

Memphis

Rice

Photo Credit: Aaron Sprecher

Photo by: Aaron Sprecher

Sep 07, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – Behind a strong defensive showing and timely offense, the Memphis women's soccer team opened the Rice Tournament with a 2-0 shutout against the host Owls Friday night at Holloway Field.

Sophomores Samantha Murphy and Clarissa Larisey tallied goals, while sophomore goalkeeper Elizabeth Moberg and the Memphis defense collected the Tigers' fifth shutout of the season.

The Tigers' back line was tested early as the Owls' offense controlled possession to open the match. Rice tallied four shots in the first 18 minutes, but a pair of saves from Moberg kept the contest scoreless. The keeper recorded three saves throughout the night for the ninth shutout of her career.

The Memphis offense broke through in the 21^st minute of action. Marie Levasseur sent a cross in the box, where Murphy then pushed a rising header past the Rice goalkeeper for her third score of the season and gave Memphis an early 1-0 advantage.

"Rice came out at the beginning of the match and pressed us, and I think it caught us off guard a little bit. We got a goal and the game evened out," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "At halftime we had a good discussion with the girls and changed a bit of our game plan, and they responded really well. It's a smaller field and tougher conditions than we are used to. I'm proud of the kids to get a great win."

Rice created a pair of opportunities to open the second half. After back-to-back corner kicks were turned aside, an Owls' shot off a free kick sailed high.

The Tigers began to turn the momentum when Larisey helped seal the Tiger victory in the 69^th minute. The sophomore sped past the Owl defense down the left side of the pitch and connected on her sixth goal of the season and set the 2-0 final.

Rice provided one last push after a pair of corner kicks, but the Tiger defense stood tall once more to secure the clean sheet.

"Elizabeth Moberg came up with some big saves. They were putting us on our heels the first 20 minutes," Monaghan said of the defensive effort. "In the big picture, I think it was a tale of two halves. They were better in the first half, and in the second half we were better and created more chances. To get a 2-0 result, I'm very pleased."

The Tigers will close the Rice Tournament with a Sunday matchup against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Kickoff for the weekend finale is set for 11 a.m.