The Skyhawk women’s soccer team dropped a difficult game to the Memphis Tigers of Conference USA on Wednesday night, 3-0. The bigger Tigers struck early with a goal in the 12th minute of the match, only to follow with two more first half goals that came merely 15 seconds apart.

The Skyhawks tightened up the defense in the second half, holding the Tigers scoreless, but the effort wasn’t enough. The Memphis defenders were able to contain the Skyhawk offense, limiting them to only three shots on goal for the match.

“We played a good game,” Head coach Nathan Pifer said of the effort and “[Memphis] did a good job of containing our offense.”
Pifer also said that the Skyhawks would look to “play better and get the offense going better at the beginning of games.”

As the Skyhawks welcomed South Alabama, Arkansas Little-Rock and Murray State to campus this weekend as part of the Puma Skyhawk Invitational they took to heart the words of their coach.

In both weekend matches for the Skyhawks they struck early and often en rout to back-to-back wins and their first Skyhawk Invitational Championship. UTM finished the tournament with six goals over the two games all by different players.

The first opponent for the Skyhawks were the Jaguars of South Alabama who UTM downed 3-2 and scored their first goal against only eight minutes into the match. Senior forward Dani Myrick netted her first goal of the season off an assist from defender Jamie Price.

The Skyhawks added two second half goals from Paula Sanematsu and Kindal Keim who was assisted by Katie Berhens. The Skyhawks finished the match out shooting the Jaguars 25-8.

In the Skyhawks second game of the Invitational they overpowered the Trojans of Arkansas-Little Rock 3-0. The final outcome of this game was not indicative of the Skyhawks pure domination, as they also had three near goals make it past the goalkeeper only to clank off the post.

UTM’s first goal of the afternoon came early when junior Jamie Ohlheiser netted her third goal of the season off an assist from Sarah Bedell. UTM added a second goal when the Trojans committed a foul inside the penalty box, allowing senior Lindsey Tilk to line up for a penalty kick which she netted. The goal was Tilk’s first of her career.

The Skyhawks added a third goal late in the match as midfielder Katie Behrens collected her second assist of the tournament on a pass to freshman Jody Keirs who netted her second goal of the season. In the effort, goalkeeper Megan Dempsey also collected her third shutout of the season.

Coach Pifer said of the winning the tournament that “we accomplished our goals” and he is “very proud of the girl’s effort.” “It feels good to collect a championship after finishing second in years past.”

The Skyhawks will now look forward to their next match when they will welcome the Belmont Bruins to Skyhawk Field on Friday, Sept. 16, at 4 p.m.

UTM defeated the Bruins 2-1 in last year’s match up.