Tigers advance to first AAC final with 1-0 victory against UCF

Friday, November 2

Tampa, Fla.

3:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

16-3-0, 7-2-0

UCF

10-7-1, 6-3-0

UCF

Memphis

Photo by: Ben Solomon

Tigers advance to first AAC final with 1-0 victory against UCF

Nov 02, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Levasseur's sixth goal of season propels Tigers to win

TAMPA, Fla. – A Marie Levasseur goal late in the second half was all the No. 18/19 Memphis women's soccer team needed to advance to its first American Athletic Conference Championship final.

The Tigers (16-3, 7-2) collected their 12^th shutout of the season behind a 1-0 victory against UCF (10-7-1, 6-3) in the AAC semifinal matchup Friday night at host USF's Corbett Stadium.

"I was so proud of our kids. I thought they really brought the right mentality. They went and got this game," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to score a couple more, so it was close to the very end. I thought tonight the better team won, and I couldn't be more proud."

In the 81^st minute of the match, Stasia Mallin sailed a cross from the left side of the pitch into the box, and Levasseur connected her header from the back post past the Knights' keeper.

"It's such an incredible feeling. It's not about me scoring, though. I wouldn't have that opportunity without any of my teammates. Tonight was a team effort," Levasseur said of the victory. "I had a lot of emotion. We lost the first time this season against them, so it was about that revenge. I think we wanted it more today. The energy was there from the beginning and I thought that was what made a difference today."

The Tigers' back line, which limited the Knights to a season-low five total shots, stood tall over the final minutes to seal the victory. In goal, Elizabeth Moberg registered her 12^th shutout of the season, which set a single-season school record for a sophomore and moved her to second in overall single-season history.

Memphis controlled the majority of the match and spent most of the opening 45 minutes in its attacking half. The Tigers found a pair of chances from Levasseur in the 13^th minute, but a save and rebound blocked shot kept the contest scoreless.

Clarissa Larisey created a chance just six minutes later that was stopped, while shots by Elizabeth Woerner, Mallin and Jessica Lisi added pressure toward the end of the frame.

UCF opened the second half with a breakaway opportunity but an offside call negated the chance. The Tigers continued to pepper the UCF defense with six shots before Levasseur broke through with her sixth goal of the season.

"Stasia, whether she's on the right or left, she puts a great service in. Marie was there to finish it," Monaghan added of the game-winner. "That's not usually Marie's forte, to score off a header, so I'm super proud of her. She's continued to improve that area of her game. She missed one at the beginning of the game, so good for her to get that next opportunity and bury it."

Memphis will return to the pitch for Sunday's championship final at 1 p.m. (CT), which will be broadcast on ESPNU. The Tigers will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal matchup between USF and ECU.