MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee played a strong offensive
game, but a pair of goals from Christabel Oduro gave Memphis a 3-2 win over the
Blue Raiders at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon.
MT (5-3-0) put together eight shots, four of which were on goal in the loss.
Memphis (4-3-0) responded with 19 shots in the victory. Middle Tennessee took
an early lead and tied the game in the second half, but Memphis used a second
half goal to stave off the Raiders.
Oduro gave UM a go-ahead goal in the first half. At the 67th
minute, she scored the game winner to give the Lady Tigers their second
consecutive win.
Middle Tennessee goalkeeper Kelsey Brouwer collected eight saves, just one
short of her career-high. Brouwer's valiant effort deflected several Memphis
shots away from the net, including two shots in the span of 20 seconds.
Freshman Emily Jorgenson tallied her first collegiate goal with a ball
driven inside the left box to put the Blue Raiders up 1-0 at the 17th
minute.
Memphis notched the equalizer when Kylie Davis scored off a UM corner kick
with 5:21 left in the first half.
The Lady Tigers took advantage of a pair of corner kicks. Oduro knocked in
the second goal for UM as she capitalized from a ball played from the corner
into the box.
At the half, Middle Tennessee had four shots against the Lady Tigers.
The Blue Raiders scored the equalizer at 51:29 when freshman Kate Loye
tallied her first collegiate goal from four yards out after a scramble inside
the box.
About 16 minutes later, Oduro responded once again for the Lady Tigers.
The junior connected on a goal from the left side to put Memphis up 3-2.
Middle Tennessee had a pair of shots in the final portion of the half, but
the Lady Tigers controlled possession as they sealed their third all-time
victory against MT.
Coach Aston Rhoden recognized his team's resilience, especially against a
formidable opponent like Memphis.
"We played good today, but it's about growth," said Rhoden.
"We've got to keep in mind that more than 50 percent of our players are
new. We played a team that was No. 6 in the country last year. We were able to
take the lead and tie the game when we were down. We are nowhere near where we
need to be. We have to clean up a couple of small things as we enter conference
play."
The Blue Raiders open Sun Belt Conference action next weekend at the Dean A.
Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium. UALR visits MT on Friday evening at 7pm, with
Arkansas State coming to Murfreesboro on Sunday at 1pm.
