Tulane University
Houston
Mendez Lifts Women's Soccer Past C-USA Houston
Sep 24, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2004
NEW ORLEANS, La. - - Jessica Mendez scored her first goal of the season midway through the first half to lead the Tulane women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Conference USA rival Houston at the Westfeldt Facility on Friday.
The win snapped a four-match losing streak for the Green Wave, lifting the team to 3-5-1 overall and 1-0-0 to start league action. Tulane is now undefeated in its last 14 games at home dating back to the 2002 season, posting an 11-0-3 mark during that span. Houston, which had a three-game winning streak halted, falls to 3-6-0 overall and 0-1-0 in C-USA play.
Houston held much of the possession for the first 15 minutes of the game, but only had a pair of harmless long-range shots to show for it. After taking control of the match, the Green Wave earned its first corner kick in the 18th minute. Sophomore Lauren Peek, earning her first start of the year after a strong week of practice, nearly rewarded the coaching staff's decision, only to see her powerful header skim over the cross bar.
Tulane got what would prove to be the game's only goal in the 30th minute of play. Jaclyn Benjamin blasted a free kick towards goal and Houston goalkeeper Nicole Oliver could not control the shot. The ball fell to Mendez, who easily scored her first goal of the year in the open net. The strike was Mendez's sixth career game-winning goal.
"This was a good team effort tonight," Tulane head coach Betsy Anderson said. "We had a lot of individuals step up and we got some great leadership from team captain Jackie Obert, who we picked as our Player of the Game. Our back four also played well from an organizational point of view. Now that we've started Conference USA play, every game is important."
Neither team managed much in the way of a threatening attack in the second half, with the game played firmly near midfield for much of the night. Lindsay Morris nearly added a second goal for Tulane in the 71st minute, however, but her header from a Courtney Krouse cross flashed by the far post and over the endline.
Tulane held a 6-3 edge in shots, with Oliver posting a pair of first-half saves. Tulane netminder Megan Morey added one save in picking up her fourth shutout of the year and the ninth clean sheet of her career.
Tulane will welcome league foe TCU to the Westfeldt Facility on Sunday. That game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kick-off.
