Memphis Travels to Florida for Two Matches

Thursday, October 8

Orlando, Fla.

6:00 PM CT

University of Memphis

UCF

Photo by: Ashley Helliwell

Oct 07, 2015 | Women's Soccer

Tigers play at UCF and USF in a weekend trip to Florida

The Tigers have taken care of business at home and won three straight matches, but now face the task of hitting the road and replicating those positive results away from home. Memphis (7-3-2, 2-0-1 AAC) will fly to the state of Florida to play UCF, Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in Orlando and No. 24 USF, Sunday at 12:00 p.m. in Tampa.

"These are two very good programs. Central Florida has been the top team in our conference over the last few years. They are coming off of two losses so they need points and I know they are going to come out flying," Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "South Florida has proven to be the top team in our conference right now. They are very well coached and have a talented team."

Memphis picked up home wins over Houston and SMU last weekend to remain unbeaten in the American Athletic Conference. Cincinnati and Tulsa are the only other two unbeaten teams, while the Bearcats are at the top of the table with 10 points. Memphis and Tulsa played to a scoreless draw to open league play.

Freshman forward Marie Levasseur scored twice to seal the win over Houston and has four goals this season, which is tied with junior Valerie Sanderson for the most on the team. Senior midfielder Emily Adamic scored her first two goals of the season in the win over SMU.

Junior goalkeeper Maryse Bard-Martel has played every minute in between the posts this season and recorded her sixth shutout. She has allowed one or fewer goals in eight of the 12 matches.

"If this group puts their head down, works extremely hard and focuses, it gives us a chance to win any game. I think they are realizing that. We can't take anybody lightly and we have to focus on ourselves to give ourselves a chance," Monaghan said.

After opening league play with a 1-0 win over Temple, the UCF Knights have dropped three straight, including two on the road last weekend at East Carolina and Cincinnati.

Ashley Spivey and Carol Rodrigues are the team's leading goal scorers with six goals and five goals respectively.

The USF Bulls, who have been in the national rankings the last three weeks, have won their three league matches by a goal each. The one loss, to Cincinnati, was also by a margin of just one goal.

Olivia Chance leads the team with six goals and Ocean Parr has scored five. Both of the players have scored three game-winning goals.

"The focus and the fine details are going to make the difference this weekend. When the whistle blows the girls know that they have to lay it all out there," said Monaghan.

Memphis has just two home games remaining, against UConn and Temple next weekend, and will finish the regular season on the road.