PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Both Memphis and SMU earned home American Athletic Conference women's soccer victories on Sunday to stay atop the league standings at 2-0. Cincinnati and Temple also earned three points in the standings as they won road tilts.
Sunday, September 23
RV/- Memphis 2, ECU 1 (OT)
Despite a second-half deficit, the Memphis women's soccer team rallied late to claim its second league victory of the weekend with a 2-1 overtime thriller against the ECU Pirates.
Trailing 1-0 in the latter minutes of the second half, the Tigers broke through on a Jessica Lisi penalty kick, and Samantha Murphy's golden goal in overtime led Memphis to its eighth-straight victory and 10th overall.
In the 93rd minute, Stasia Mallin sent a pass to Clarissa Larisey in the box. Larisey tapped a drop pass to Murphy, who lasered the ball past the keeper for the win.
After a week away from the pitch, the Tigers will return to action with their first road conference weekend. Memphis is set to face Houston on Oct. 4. The Pirates will look to rebound at home against Houston on Thursday.
SMU 4, UConn 1
Head Coach Chris Petrucelli won his 400th career game as the Mustangs topped UConn, 4-1, at Westcott Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Mustangs continued their trend of scoring early goals when junior Allie Thornton floated one over the head of the UConn Keeper for the game's first tally. The Huskies was able to answer just three minutes later as Elena Santos scooped up a ball in the box for an equalizer.
In the 25th minute, Courtney Sebazco's scored what proved to be the game-winner. The freshman rocketed a shot from well outside the area into the one place the Huskies couldn't reach. Haley Thompson picked up the assist on the goal.
Next up, the Mustangs hit the road for a pair of American Athletic Conference contests. SMU meets Cincinnati on Thursday before traveling to North Carolina for a matchup with ECU on Sunday. UConn heads home this week as they host No. 18/16 USF on Thursday before taking on UCF Sunday.
Cincinnati 2, Tulsa 1
Jill Vetere tied it and Dee Picou netted the winner as Cincinnati used two second-half goals score just five minutes apart to erase a 1-0 halftime deficit and win, 2-1, on the road at Tulsa Sunday afternoon inside Hurricane Stadium. The win, UC's fourth of the year when trailing 1-0 at intermission, pushed the Bearcats to 6-4-1 on the season and 1-1-0 in American Athletic Conference play while the Golden Hurricane fell to 5-5-1 overall and 1-1-0 in AAC play.
Tulsa took the lead in the 29th minute when Anna Williams found the back of the net. The Hurricane held the advantage into the second but the Bearcats netted scores with five minutes of eachother to earn the win.
Cincinnati plays its first two home conference matches of 2018 next week as the Bearcats will welcome SMU on Thursday before Houston on Sunday. Tulsa has its bye week and returns to action on October 4 at SMU.
Temple 3, Houston 2 (OT)
Temple earned its first conference victory of the season, defeating Houston, 3-2, in a hard-fought overtime contest. The Owls edged out the Cougars behind a full-team effort, with a goal by junior Morgan Morocco and a brace, including the golden goal, by freshman Gabriela Johnson.
Houston got on the board early, scoring off a free kick in the fourth minute. Morgan Basileo blocked the initial shot attempt from the set piece, but the Cougars' Desiree Bowen headed the deflection into the back of the net. Johnson netted the equalizer for the Owls in the 35th minute.
Temple's second goal came off a corner kick as Emily Keitel sent a soaring ball into the box that found the head of Morocco in the 56th minute. The lead wouldn't last as Houston tied the match off a 71st minute goal from Bowen, assisted by Mia Brascia.
Johnson's golden goal in the 95th minute employed high-level footwork to shake her defender as she spun on a dime and rocketed a shot into the left upper 90 to give the decision to the Owls and score her second goal of the match.
Temple returns to home after completing its six-game road stretch to take on UCF on Thursday. Houston hits the road to face ECU on Thursday.
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