W-Soccer: SMU at Memphis

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

SMU (7-5-0, 2-2-0) heads to Memphis to face the Tigers Thursday night (7pm).

With just five conference games remaining, the games are starting to become more and more important as the teams jockey for position in the conference tournament.

UCF and Louisville are both undefeated in American play, and appear to be the class of the league this season. Just behind those two are Rutgers, SMU, USF, and UConn who are all capable of finishing up near the top with a good finish to the conference season.

Surprisingly, Memphis is 0-3-0 in American play even though they have a decent RPI. Granted, all three of their conference games to date have been on the road. As a matter of fact, Memphis has played six straight road games! Thursday will be their first home match since Sept. 13. Memphis is 7-5-0 overall.

It's hard to believe this weekend will be SMU's final road trip of the year. SMU and Memphis have played to a draw in each of the past two seasons, so you can figure this one will probably be close.

SMU preview:

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/100813aac.html

Go Ponies!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Bodden; Smith, Jackson, Elliott, Bartol; Clarke, Robinson, Petrucelli, Barg; Redman, Gorney

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

SMU breaks through in a tight defensive battle for a 1-0 lead at 37:16 by burying a rebound off a shot off the crossbar on a corner.

Goal credited to Gorney.

Go Ponies!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Memphis equalizes by tapping in a shot off the crossbar as well.

1-1 at 41:13.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

1-1 at the half in a very even match.

Shots are 7-5 Memphis. Shots on goal are 3-3. Corners are 2-2.

The SMU goal should credited to Bartol. Barg took the corner, Bartol headed off the crossbar, then tapped her own rebound in.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Rutgers (our Sunday opponent) defeated Houston 1-0 in Piscataway tonight.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

And just like that, the SMU goal is changed to Bartol.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Second half underway!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

15 minutes remaining. Still 1-1. Very even second half so far.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Memphis makes it 2-1 after putting a rebound into the net.

11:08 remaining.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

2-1 Final. SMU with a couple of really nice chances including a shot from Taylor Jackson off a deep throw-in from Courtney Smith. There very well could have been a call for a handball on Memphis on that one as well.

Tough loss.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Final stats:

Shots: Memphis 15, SMU 12
SOG: Memphis 5, SMU 5
Corners: Memphis 4, SMU 3

Bodden and Elliott picked up yellows tonight.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Memphis release:

http://www.gotigersgo.com/sports/w-soccer/recaps/101013aaa.html

[Mustangsabu]

Ugh... That sucks. Hope they bounce back.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

SMU release:

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/w-soccer/recaps/101013aab.html

"Our team has shown that we'll fight every game, but we've got to do more than that," Petrucelli said. "We've got to string a few more passes together and control the ball to be able to compete with the top teams in the league, like Rutgers."