Tigers close non-conference play with sixth straight win

Friday, September 20

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

8-1-0, 0-0-0

Iowa State

3-6-0, 0-0-0

Iowa State

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers close non-conference play with sixth straight win

Sep 20, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Memphis tallies sixth consecutive shutout

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Another shutout effort propelled No. 11/24 Memphis women's soccer to its sixth consecutive victory on Friday night at Park Avenue Campus, as the Tigers downed Iowa State by a final of 3-0 to close non-conference play.

An early score from sophomore Kimberley Smit established the home-side advantage. The Tigers (8-1) added pressure in the second half after freshman Mya Jones and junior Clarissa Larisey tallied scores in the first 15 minutes of the second frame.

Smit etched her second goal of the season in just the third minute of the match after a free kick found its way through to the left side of the net.

Limited to six shots in the first 45 minutes, the Tigers built momentum in the second half. Memphis recorded 17 shots in the remainder of the game, including nine on goal.

"I thought Iowa State played a little bit different than we thought they were going to play, so it kind of threw us off," head coach Brooks Monaghan noted. "The second half was very good. The first half was a little bit off, but a big part of that was the system of play."

The Tigers extended the lead when junior Lisa Pechersky offered a cross in the box that was redirected in goal by Jones in the 54^th minute. The rookie has now tallied a point in the last three contests. Larisey then added her ninth score of the season in the 59^th minute when a pass from Samantha Murphy was finished in the right side of the net.

In net, goalkeeper Elizabeth Moberg registered her fifth shutout of the season and has now been a part of seven combined clean sheets. The junior stopped Iowa State's best look of the night, halting a breakaway chance in the 72^nd minute.

"Moberg has been big-time. On crosses, she has been phenomenal. They got through one time and smashed one over her head, and she caught it like it was nothing," Monaghan added. "She's been stepping up when she needs to step up, but overall our back line has done a fantastic job of shutting teams down."

The Tigers defense limited Iowa State (3-6) to five shots throughout the evening and has limited their opponents to 5.3 shots per game throughout the season.

Memphis shifts its focus to league play as the Tigers will travel to Florida for a pair of AAC matches. Memphis will face UCF on Thursday at 5 p.m. before capping the weekend at USF on Sunday at 12 p.m.

"We need all the momentum we're going to get. Our hands are going to be full," Monaghan said. "We've got UCF and USF to start, and they are both very good. We're going to have to clean up some of tonight and continue to get better."