Nov. 16, 2007

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, NC - The University of Memphis women's soccer team lost to the UNC Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA Championship, 1-0. The game was held at UNC-Chapel Hill's, Fetzer Field. This was the Lady Tigers first appearance in the championship. They have ended their season 17-4-1, the best record in school history.

"That was a tough loss. The first thing I want to say is how proud I am proud of this group of ladies," said Coach Brooks Monaghan. "The character of this group has been phenomenal. They definitely deserved to have the season that they had."

Memphis let the Spartans have an opening in the eight minute mark as Jennifer Bronson, connected from about five yards out, but was saved by Isabel Briones.

Caroline Barrett had an impressive block 18 minutes into the game as UNCG connected eight yards out to keep the game scoreless.

At the end of the first half, both teams remained scoreless. Memphis applied pressure having seven shots, while the Spartans were right behind with four. Briones made two saves and UNCG goalkeeper Katherine Ryan had three.

Forward Harumi Someya nailed a shot high from ten yards out in traffic, but was blocked by Ryan. Five seconds later a close call after a Memphis shot saw a fumble by Ryan that would have given Memphis its first goal of the game.

In a three minute span Memphis had three defenders block three shots, to hold the Spartans off and keep the game scoreless.

UNCG's Mary Kate Towne connected on a header to the far right post from eight yards out, after a corner kick went high post with 18 minutes left in the game to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

"Tonight's game was one in which they were a lot of chances," added Monaghan. "Unfortunately, we didn't finish them but at the end of the looking back it was a great season."

Both Memphis and UNCG entered the game 17-3-1. The Lady Tigers are the C-USA Champions, while UNCG is the Southern Conference runner-ups. UNC Greensboro will advance to the second round of the NCAA Championship to play UNC- Chapel Hill on Sunday, November 18, at 1:00 pm ET.

"The steps that we have taken over the past four years have led us to this point," said Monaghan. "The future of the program looks very well. Tonight's loss leaves us with a lot of hunger and a sour taste in our mouths, but at the end of the night it makes us want to get back to it next year."

Memphis would like to honor its five seniors Caroline Barrett, Isabel Briones, Elaine Sedgewick, Harumi Someya and Halley Jo Sullivan. The seniors played a huge role in the Lady Tigers' success this season.

The Lady Tigers have ended their season on a record breaking note. There were a lot of firsts for the team including a 17-win season, a seven-game win streak, a Co-C-USA regular season championship, a C-USA Championship and a NCAA Championship appearance.