Nov. 2, 2005

Final Stats

HOUSTON - No. 4 UTEP took a wild 5-4 decision from No. 5 Memphis in game two of the 2005 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship. After a scoreless first half, the Miners opened the second stanza with five-unanswered goals to take command of the match. However, Memphis mounted a furious comeback scoring four goals in the final 19 minutes to bring an exciting finish to the match.

The nine combined goals is the most ever in a C-USA tournament match. UTEP midfielder Melissa Abraham scored a pair of goals as did Memphis freshman forward Kylie Hayes.

UTEP struck for two quick goals in the opening four minutes of the second half to take control of the match. Senior Kia Sams scored the first goal when her corner kick found the back of the net. It was the eighth time this season the Miners had scored on a corner kick this season. Then just over two minutes later, Abraham finished a cross from Jami Tullius to give the Miners their two-goal lead.

Abraham added her second goal of the match in the 58th minute to push the lead to 3-0 after she headed in a clearing attempt on another UTEP corner kick. Abraham leads Conference USA with 16 goals this season. Cara Nordin scored an unassisted goal in the 61st minute on a 30-yard blast to give the Miners what appeared to be a comfortable 4-0 margin. Nordin's goal was her fifth of the season.

UTEP built a 5-0 lead on a goal by Kristin Wernimont, which would eventually be the game-winner. Memphis got on the board just 34 seconds later when Hayes scored unassisted. Junior Shoko Mikami, the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, tallied the next goal after finishing a free kick by Courtnee Melton.

With just under two minutes remaining, the Tigers cut the UTEP lead to 5-3 when Hayes finished a cross from Mikami and got within a goal just 28 seconds later on Caroline Barrett's fourth goal of the season. Barrett's goal came with under a minute to play in the match, but the Tigers last offensive attack came up short as the Miners cleared the ball to end the contest.

The nine goals broke the old mark of seven combined goals set in the 1997 quarterfinals by Charlotte and USF. The 49ers won that match, 5-2. Memphis ended up holding a 17-16 advantage on shots. Tiger goalkeeper Isabel Briones made six saves, while UTEP starter Brittany Popoff made three saves and allowed two of Memphis' goals.