Women's Soccer Defeats ECU Sunday

Sunday, April 11

Memphis, Tenn.

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

8-2-0, 6-1-0

ECU

3-5-2, 3-3-2

East Carolina

Memphis

Photo by: Eric Glemser

Apr 11, 2021 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Memphis-ECU Boxscore

Tigers send seniors out on winning note in regular-season finale.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis' Clarissa Larisey scored the match's lone goal 14 minutes in, and the Tigers defense did the rest as the UofM celebrated 2020-21 Senior Day with a 1-0 American Athletic Conference victory over East Carolina Sunday. The match was played at the Billy J. Murphy Soccer/Track and Field Complex on the University's Park Avenue campus.

Prior to the action, the Tigers honored the 2020-21 senior class of Larisey, Samantha Murphy and Lisa Pechersky. In their four seasons, the seniors have a 53-15-4 record (entering the 2021 postseason) and have won an AAC Tournament title (2018) and an AAC regular-season crown (2019).

"They are three very special young ladies who I'm extremely happy to say had great games today," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "Clarissa obviously scored the goal. Sam played a few more minutes than she had been playing this season, and I thought she was one of the best players on the field. And Lisa is Lisa; she does what she does. I am proud of those three.

"They will be missed in the future, but we're hoping there is a lot more soccer to be played this year."

With the win Sunday, the Tigers finish the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and a 6-1 conference mark. Memphis is the AAC Tournament's No. 2 seed in next weekend's event, which is being hosted by USF. The Pirates drop to 3-5-2 overall and 3-3-2 in the AAC.

After each team had an scoring opportunity in the opening 10 minutes, the UofM struck in the 14^thminute when Caroline Duncan sent a long ball to Larisey down the right side of the field. Larisey picked up Duncan's pass and dribbled into the box, where she planted a 12-yard shot to the upper righthand corner of the net.

Before Memphis' score, ECU's best scoring chance in the first half came in the fifth minute when Maycie McDougal's 22-yard attempt was saved by UofM goalkeeper Elizabeth Moberg. McDougal's open shot came off a rebound following an ECU free kick. The shot was the Pirates' only one of the match.

After intermission, each squad was aggressive offensively and earned a corner kick in the half's opening two minutes.

From that point, Memphis dominated play with 12 shots and three corner kicks. The UofM defense stifled the ECU offense in the match's final 42 minutes, allowing no shots and one corner kick.

The Tigers continued to be on the attack late in the contest and had an opportunity to extend their lead. Larisey had an opening down the right side and dribbled into the box where her shot was blocked by ECU's Kim Stanford. Grace Stordy picked up the rebound off the block and took an attempt, but it was saved by Pirates goalkeeper Maeve English.

"I thought our team played well," Monaghan said. "Obviously, we lost our last one (at USF April 6), but I was hoping that the group would come back with something to prove. I thought they did that today.

"We were unlucky not to get a second or third goal. We played against a very good team that was playing to get in the tournament. Those types of games are very scary. I was very pleased with our overall performance."

Memphis outshot ECU 16-1, including 13-0 in the second half. The Tigers held a 7-3 corner kick advantage. Moberg collected one save in her sixth shutout of the season. English had two saves for ECU.

Memphis returns to action next weekend at the AAC Women's Soccer Championship. Opponent and match time for Thursday's semifinal will be announced by the conference later Sunday.

"It's the postseason, and whoever we play, we're going to get their best," said Monaghan. "We're going to have to be at our best if we're going to compete for the championship."

For more information on the Memphis women's soccer team, follow the Tigers on Facebook (/MemphisWSoccer), Twitter (@MemphisWSoccer) and Instagram (@MemphisWSoccer).