Oduro's Game-Winner Propels No. 8 Memphis Past UTEP, 3-0, on Senior Night
Memphis, Tenn.- The undefeated U of M Tigers took down UTEP, 3-0, in a battle of two of Conference-USA's top offenses on Senior Night at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The Tigers dominated on both offense and defense finishing the game with 20 shots on goal seven corner kicks, and four saves. The shutout-win boosted Memphis to 6-0-1 in C-USA play and 14-0-1 overall, while UTEP dropped to 4-2-1 and 10-4-2.
The Tigers pounced first in the 21st minute when Kylie Davis played the ball to Christabel Oduroin the box, who beat UTEP goalkeeper Sarah Dilling from five yards out giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. The goal was Oduro's seventh of the year, while the assist by Davis was her second of the 2011 campaign. The Tigers took their 1-0 lead into halftime as Memphis dominated the Miners in all offensive categories with 10 shots, and five corner kicks.
Defensively, the Tigers only allowed five shots on goal while goalkeeper Elise Kuhar-Pitters recorded her 41st and 42nd saves on the season. On the year the Tigers have dominated their opponents in the first half of games in shots (131-49), goals (14-2), and corner kicks (45-26).
The second half saw the Tigers continue their offensive and defensive dominance over UTEP. In the 57th minute Rasheeda Ansari found the back of the net when Lowe's Senior Class Award nominee Lizzy Simonin headed the ball to the Tiger sophomore who booted it into the goal, improving the Memphis lead to 2-0. The assist by Simonin was her fourth of the season, while the goal was Ansari's fifth.
Memphis continued the offensive onslaught in the 75th minute when Simonin scored a free-kick goal from 30-yards out that beat the goalkeeper in the upper right 90. The goal was her second goal in consecutive games and the senior's fifth goal on the season. In 2011, Memphis has scored 38 goals in 15 matches, with 11 different players scoring those goals.
On defense the Tigers allowed only 10 shots total for the game, while Memphis goalkeeper Kuhar-Pitters increased her overall season save total to 44. The 3-0 shutout over the Miners was her tenth shutout of the season, just two shy of breaking the single season individual shutout record of 11 that she currently holds. For her career Kuhar-Pitters has 33-career shutouts and 49 victories.
The Lady Tigers return to the pitch for their final home game of the regular season on Sunday October 16 at 1:00 p.m. against C-USA rival Colorado College. Memphis holds the all-time series lead over Colorado College 3-2.
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