Two Second Half Goals Lift No. 11 Memphis Over Vanderbilt

September 15, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Two second half goals and timely saves by Elise Kuhar-Pitters lifted the 11th-ranked University of Memphis women's soccer squad to a 2-0 victory on Thursday at Vanderbilt. With the win, Memphis improved to 8-0-0 while Vanderbilt dropped to 5-2-0.

The Lady Tigers wasted no time in grabbing the lead out of the halftime break. Just over a minute into the half, Kylie Davis served a cross from the left side to the front of the net where Rasheeda Ansari would put it away with the header. It was Ansari's third goal of the season and Davis' second assist. The goal scored marked the first time the Commodores had allowed a score in roughly 350 minutes.

Just over 10 minutes later, Natalia Gomez-Junco gave Memphis a 2-0 lead. Gomez-Junco gathered a loose ball inside the 18-yard box served by Melissa Smith, dribbled past a defender and put it away from six yards away. It was Gomez-Junco's third goal of the season and Smith's second assist.

Vanderbilt appeared to have mustered a great scoring opportunity in the opening minutes of the match as Ashley Oswald fired a shot from the left side from about 10 yards away. GoalkeeperElise Kuhar-Pitters would come up with the save as she dove to her right.

Kuhar-Pitters came up big in the waning minutes of the second half. Vanderbilt made a run down the sideline, crossed the ball inside the box and Kate Goldin attempted a shot, but Kuhar-Pitters came up with the save. Kuhar-Pitters finished with four saves in the match and improved her scoreless streak to 527:25, a program best. The shutout marked her 28th career clean sheet and her 43rd career victory, also program bests.

With the win, Memphis has won eight-straight matches against SEC foes, with five of the victories coming via shutouts. The U of M now carries a 19-14-1 record against SEC opposition. The Lady Tigers also improved to 24-10 all-time against foes from the state of Tennessee. The victory over Vanderbilt is Memphis' first in three tries. The Lady Tigers improved to 29-6-3 in road matches since the 2007 season. The 8-0 start to the season is a program-best and the eight-game win streak is a program record.

The U of M outshot Vanderbilt 13-7 on the game, but the Commodores held Memphis to a season-low two corner kicks.

Memphis opens conference play on the road next weekend with matches against Houston on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. and Rice on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.