LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The University of Memphis women's soccer team was in action for a pair of games on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Little Rock, Ark. at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

"I think this was a great way to start the spring and these were two quality wins for us," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "I was very pleased with the way that we played today."

The first game of the day took place at 11:30 a.m. and matched the Lady Tigers against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in a shortened match with 35 minute halves. Memphis overpowered the Trojans with a 6-1 victory.

"We were able to get quite a few goals in the first game," said Monaghan. "We still have some ruts to get through before the fall, but I was very pleased with our performance."

2008 C-USA Tournament Offensive MVP junior Laura Laufenberg notched a pair of goals while sophomore Ashley Berra sent home one of her own. Freshman Julia Ignacio who missed much of 2008 traveling with the U-17 Canadian National Team to the World Cup also added to the score. C-USA Freshman of the Year Lizzy Simonin and C-USA All-Freshman team member Lizzy Hildebrandt topped off the Memphis scoring barrage with one goal a piece.

Freshman Nikki Unland got the start for the Lady Tigers in goal and recorded a scoreless first half including XX saves. Fellow freshman Jordan Boyle took over duties in the net for the second half. The only goal of the game for the Trojans came on UALR's only shot in the second half.

The second game of the Lady Tigers double header pitted the defending C-USA Champions against the Oklahoma State Cowboys who finished the 2008 season ranked No. 13 in the country. Memphis prevailed following the two 35 minute periods with a 1-0 victory.

"Oklahoma State is a very quality opponent who is very well coached," said Monaghan. "They were ranked as high as 7th in the country last year and it says a lot about our team and our players for us to be able to play everyone and come out and compete with them. It was a close game. We played very well in the second half and got several good chances. It could have gone either way, but we were fortunate to get a win."

The 2008 C-USA Freshman of the Year Lizzy Simonin netted the only goal in the contest. Redshirt freshman Elise Kuhar-Pitters was called on for the start in the contest and played the first 50 minutes of the match. Unland came in for the final 20 minutes of the contest to finalize the 1-0 shutout.

"What was important was that we got to play everybody against a high level of competition and we went out and got the job done," said Monaghan.

The Lady Tigers are in action again on Saturday, March 28, when they make a trip to Decatur, Ala. for another pair of contests against Vanderbilt University and Samford University.