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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Junior Allison Leone turned in a strong goalkeeping effort with 10 saves, but WKU could not overcome two second-half goals on the road Sunday afternoon, falling 2-0 at Memphis to cap its opening weekend of the regular season.
The Lady Toppers (1-1) came into the contest after a 7-1 victory at UT Martin on Friday evening, while Memphis improved to 2-0 following the win. The Tigers owned a 20-5 advantage in shots, including a 12-2 mark in shots on goal, but WKU held them scoreless over the opening 45 minutes and allowed only the pair of goals on the afternoon.
Chandler Backes, who fired a pair of goals in her collegiate debut on Friday, led WKU with a pair of shots. The Carmel, Ind., native nearly pulled the Lady Toppers even almost immediately following Memphis' first goal, but her headed effort struck the crossbar. Caitlin Hesse, Iris Dunn and Makenzie Costner also fired shots, with Dunn and Costner notching the shots on goal for WKU in the second half.
Leone played all 90 minutes in net for the Lady Toppers, falling just one save shy of her career-high single-game mark. Maryse Bard-Martel earned the victory for Memphis, also playing the full 90 minutes with a pair of saves.
In the opening half, Memphis tested the WKU defense often but could not find a breakthrough. Leone made six of her saves in the first frame, while another shot was blocked by a Lady Topper defender. Backes nearly gave WKU an early 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, but the freshman's shot sailed just high over the crossbar.
Early in the second half, Dunn also came close to producing a lead for the Lady Toppers. In the 50th minute, the senior sent a header in on goal, but Bard-Martel was there for the stop to maintain the 0-0 deadlock.
Memphis earned both of its second-half goals off set pieces, the first coming in the 67th minute off Jessica Lisi's corner. Lisi placed the corner into the box and found the head of Valerie Sanderson, who beat Leone for the first goal of the match. Just over four minutes later, the same duo connected for another headed goal on a free kick, giving the Tigers a 2-0 advantage at the 70:28 mark.
Over the final 15 minutes, WKU had several chances to find the back of the net. The team earned four corners, while Hesse struck the post and Costner put a shot on goal in the 85th minute that was saved by Bard-Martel.
WKU will return to action next Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (CT) as the Lady Toppers close out their season-opening road trip at Miami (Ohio). The Lady Toppers will be seeking to avenge a 4-0 setback against the Redhawks in Bowling Green last season before returning home the following Friday, Sept. 2, for a date against Austin Peay.
Season tickets are available online at WKUSports.com or by phone at 1-800-5-BIGRED. A $25 flexible ticket package is available that includes all nine regular season home matches against Austin Peay, Georgia State, LSU, Morehead State, Southern Miss, Middle Tennessee, UAB, UTSA and Old Dominion.
For more information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team via social media @WKU_Soccer on Twitter and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUAthletics.
