University of Memphis Athletics
Thursday, August 19
Memphis, Tenn.
7 p.m.
University of Memphis
vs
Southeast Missouri State
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers Kick-Off 2021 Season At Home Against SEMO, Ole Miss
Aug 18, 2021 | Women's Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Coming off their final exhibition match against preseason top-25 Vanderbilt, the Tigers will open the 2021 season this Thursday and Sunday against Southeast Missouri State and Ole Miss, respectively.
"We had a phenomenal preseason and got the chance to play three quality opponents and while we still have a lot to learn, we also learned a lot," said head women's soccer coach Brooks Monaghan. "I truly believe we are in a really good place going into our first games of the season."
The Tigers are coming off their third consecutive trip to the NCAA National Tournament and look to do it again this season.
Memphis returns a large portion of their team from last season including Tanya Boychuk, who was named a 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American, Kimberley Smit, who was honored to the 2020-21 USC All-South Region and the American Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team, Mya Jones, who was tabbed as the 2020-21 AAC Midfielder of the Year, and sophomore duo Grace Stordy and Haylee Spray, who were both named to the 2020-21 AAC All-Rookie Team.
Elizabeth Moberg also returns this season for the Tigers; last season, the three-time All-Conference honoree recorded 26 saves in the team's shortened season while posting six shutouts. She currently ranks fourth all-time in career wins and second in career shutouts.
"We have tremendous leadership on our team and when you have those older student-athletes who are exceptional at leading a team, the younger athletes are going to trust them," explained Monaghan. "We have the right group of people leading the younger class and that is so important in leading the team deep into the season."
Southeast Missouri State, SEMO, who is picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference, returns three of their prominent playmakers from last season; Lauren Welker, who was tabbed to the 2021 OVC Players to Watch List, makes her return for the Redhawks after recording six goals and four assists last season. Morgan McCourt, 2020-21 All-OVC Second Team, and Emma Brune, OVC All-Newcomer Team, also return for SEMO this season.
In last year's shortened season, the Redhawks finished with a 6-3-1 record after playing only OVC opponents. They took down #1 Murray State with a 1-0 win in the semifinal round of the OVC Tournament with a goal from Emma Brune in the 12' of play while goalkeeper bailey Redden recorded seven saves that night. They would go on to drop the championship match to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
Ole Miss, who is tabbed at No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and predicted to finish sixth in the Southeastern Conference, returns nearly their entire roster from last season.
After going 4-4 in conference play and dropping their opening match against LSU in the SEC Tournament in the fall, the Rebels would go 6-0 in the spring portion of the season and earn a bid to the NCAA National Tournament. They would make it past the first two rounds on back-to-back penalty kicks before seeing their season end with a 1-0 loss to No. 6 ranked Duke in the Sweet 16.
Live stats for Thursday night's season opener against SEMO can be found at GoTigersGo.com while Sunday's match against Ole Miss can be watched on ESPN+.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"We had a phenomenal preseason and got the chance to play three quality opponents and while we still have a lot to learn, we also learned a lot," said head women's soccer coach Brooks Monaghan. "I truly believe we are in a really good place going into our first games of the season."
The Tigers are coming off their third consecutive trip to the NCAA National Tournament and look to do it again this season.
Memphis returns a large portion of their team from last season including Tanya Boychuk, who was named a 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American, Kimberley Smit, who was honored to the 2020-21 USC All-South Region and the American Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team, Mya Jones, who was tabbed as the 2020-21 AAC Midfielder of the Year, and sophomore duo Grace Stordy and Haylee Spray, who were both named to the 2020-21 AAC All-Rookie Team.
Elizabeth Moberg also returns this season for the Tigers; last season, the three-time All-Conference honoree recorded 26 saves in the team's shortened season while posting six shutouts. She currently ranks fourth all-time in career wins and second in career shutouts.
"We have tremendous leadership on our team and when you have those older student-athletes who are exceptional at leading a team, the younger athletes are going to trust them," explained Monaghan. "We have the right group of people leading the younger class and that is so important in leading the team deep into the season."
Southeast Missouri State, SEMO, who is picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference, returns three of their prominent playmakers from last season; Lauren Welker, who was tabbed to the 2021 OVC Players to Watch List, makes her return for the Redhawks after recording six goals and four assists last season. Morgan McCourt, 2020-21 All-OVC Second Team, and Emma Brune, OVC All-Newcomer Team, also return for SEMO this season.
In last year's shortened season, the Redhawks finished with a 6-3-1 record after playing only OVC opponents. They took down #1 Murray State with a 1-0 win in the semifinal round of the OVC Tournament with a goal from Emma Brune in the 12' of play while goalkeeper bailey Redden recorded seven saves that night. They would go on to drop the championship match to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
Ole Miss, who is tabbed at No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and predicted to finish sixth in the Southeastern Conference, returns nearly their entire roster from last season.
After going 4-4 in conference play and dropping their opening match against LSU in the SEC Tournament in the fall, the Rebels would go 6-0 in the spring portion of the season and earn a bid to the NCAA National Tournament. They would make it past the first two rounds on back-to-back penalty kicks before seeing their season end with a 1-0 loss to No. 6 ranked Duke in the Sweet 16.
Live stats for Thursday night's season opener against SEMO can be found at GoTigersGo.com while Sunday's match against Ole Miss can be watched on ESPN+.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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