Tigers Return Home To Open Up Conference Play

Thursday, September 21

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

SMU

Photo by: Don Claussen

Sep 20, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Women’s Soccer will host SMU Thursday and Houston Sunday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's soccer team returns home this week to open up American Athletic Conference play with a match Thursday night against SMU and Sunday afternoon against Houston. Thursday's match will be played at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. while Sunday's contest will take place at the Billy J. Murphy Track and Soccer Complex on Park Avenue at 1 p.m.

MATCH INFORMATION:

Thursday, September 21
Memphis vs. SMU
Location: Memphis, Tenn. - 7 p.m. CT
Venue: Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Twitter Updates: @MemphisWSoccer
Live Stats | Watch $

Sunday, September 24
Memphis vs. Houston
Location: Memphis, Tenn. - 1 p.m. CT
Venue: Billy J. Murphy Track & Soccer Complex
Twitter Updates: @MemphisWSoccer
Promotion: Water Bottle Giveaway
Live Stats | Watch $

Five Things To Know About Memphis

The Tigers were picked to finish first the American Athletic Conference this season. Three Tigers were selected to the preseason all-conference team in Olivia Gauthier, Marie Levasseur, and Jessica Lisi. Levasseur and Lisi each account for four of Memphis' 25 goals scored this year.
Sunday's match is the first regular season contest at the Billy J. Murphy Track & Soccer Complex. The pitch on the Park Avenue Campus is the everyday home of the Tigers when they are not playing at Mike Rose. The match on Sunday will mark the first women's match on campus since the 2001 season.
Elizabeth Woerner has scored five goals in the last six matches and leads the Tigers with seven this year. Woerner sits in a tie for 13^th in the NCAA in goals scored this year.
As a squad, Memphis is an offensive force to be reckoned with. Through nine games, the Tigers are tied for 11^th in the nation with 2.78 goals per contest.
The Tigers held strong at No. 33 in the latest RPI poll, despite suffering setbacks to Idaho and Gonzaga.

A Look At SMU
Entering into Thursday match, the Mustangs carry a 4-2-2 overall record and 1-0-1 mark on the road. Along with the Tigers, this is the first conference match-up of the season for SMU. With a stacked schedule, three out of the four victories for SMU were against Power 5 opponents.

Vanessa Valadez leads the team with five goals on 17 shots while Haley Thompson has four assists to her name. Three Valadez's goals were game-winners and she has successfully converted the only penalty kick for SMU on the year.

Along with Valadez, Claire Oates and Allie Thornton were picked on the preseason all-conference team. Oates is responsible for two goals and an assist while Thornton has scored once on a team that was picked to finish second in the AAC behind Memphis.

A Look At Houston
Prior to kick-off against the Tigers, Houston will begin the conference slate on the road at Tulsa on Thursday evening. Houston currently sits at 4-3-1 overall with a decision coming in three out of the last four matches.

The Cougars and the Tigers had a common opponent during the off-season in the Rice Owls. Houston fell to Rice by a score of 4-1 in the beginning of the Sept. while the Tigers defeated the Owls, 3-1 in the Memphis Tournament.

Houston was picked to finish in a tie for eighth place in the league with ECU. Hannah Dauzat leads the squad with five goals while Madison Soileau has three assists. The Cougars overall are outshooting their opponents, 17-12.

Follow the Tigers
For more information on the Memphis women's soccer team, follow the Tigers on Facebook at /MemphisWSoccer and on Twitter and Instagram at @MemphisWSoccer.