MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Western Kentucky University Lady Topper soccer team ran into a stiff Memphis defense that had only allowed one goal all season, dropping a 3-0 contest to the 24th-ranked Lady Tigers on Sunday afternoon in Memphis. The Lady Toppers drop to 3-1 on the season and will travel to Evansville on Friday, September 11. The Lady Tigers improve to 3-1 with the victory. Memphis outshot the Lady Toppers 15-3 in the match and led the corner kick battle 8-2.
The three goals allowed is just the second time in two seasons that the Lady Toppers have allowed more than two opponent tallies, and the shutout loss was the first in a regular-season match since September 9, 2007. All of the Lady Toppers’ shots came in the first half and were recorded by Morgan Thomas, Sydney Sisler and Christen Sims. Memphis’ victory was powered by one goal and one assist by Taylor Isenhower.
Memphis started on the attack to start the game, controlling the ball in WKU’s territory for much of the opening five minutes. The Lady Tigers managed a couple of looks off well-executed crosses, but the Lady Toppers’ defense knocked away the attempts. With just under 39 minutes to go in the half WKU got its first scoring opportunity, when Thomas headed a Kellie Walker corner kick just wide of goal.
After the fast start, both teams settled down during the middle of the half. The squads traded possessions and looks on goal with the Lady Toppers having another opportunity to convert off a corner kick, but Sisler’s header off the rebound went wide. Memphis had a good chance of their own with 20 minutes remaining in the first half, but could not convert. Ashley Berra took a shot off a loose ball from 18 yards out, but the ball sailed past the upper corner of the goal out of bounds.
With 5:41 remaining in the half, Memphis broke through to get on the scoresheet first. Isenhower served a ball from about 20 yards away that snuck past the Lady Topper defense to a waiting Bailey Pembroke, who punched it in from the left side past WKU goalkeeper Libby Stout. Memphis had a pair of chances off corner kicks as the half wound down, but did not convert and the score remained 1-0 heading into the half. Memphis held an 8-3 shot advantage and a 5-2 lead in corner kicks after the first 45 minutes.
Seven minutes into the second half Memphis found the back of the net again, when Berra took a pass from Averi Hallman and got behind the WKU defense to put it in from eight yards out to give the Lady Tigers a 2-0 advantage. Memphis added another tally with just over 24 minutes remaining in the half, as Isenhower punched one in from in front of the goal four yards away past Leslie King, who had checked in for Stout earlier in the second half.
Up Next: WKU hits the road for two games next weekend. The Lady Toppers will play at Evansville on Friday, September 11 at 7 p.m. and will travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo. on Sunday, September 13 to take on Southeast Missouri State at 2 p.m.
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