No. 19 Tigers Take a Point Against Tulsa, Earn Outright Regular Season Title

Thursday, October 31

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

11-1-4, 6-0-4

Tulsa

7-8-4, 3-5-2

Tulsa

Memphis

No. 19 Tigers Take a Point Against Tulsa, Earn Outright Regular Season Title

Oct 31, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 19 Memphis women's soccer team finished a second consecutive home season unbeaten, playing Tulsa to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night at the Track and Soccer Stadium.

The one point was enough to pass South Florida and earn an outright regular season title, their second in a row and sixth in program history.

"I thought we were the better team and we obviously had a chance to take all three points," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "Down the stretch, there were just too many individualistic plays, rather than playing as a team to see the game out. We should have a lot to take away from this performance."

The Tigers (11-1-4, 6-0-4 AAC) attacked early and often, finishing the game with 32 shots but failing to finish one of their 18 in the first half. Freshman substitute Natalie Liebel came the closest when she got on the end of a cutback from Anna Hauer, but her shot was scurried away by goalkeeper Tatum Sanders.

Elise Perron was able to find the back of the net in the 63rd minute, but the goal was disallowed due to offside. The Tigers continued to constrain the Hurricane defense and broke through in the 72nd minute when Ai Kitagawa landed a perfect chip shot into the top left corner of the net. The goal marked her sixth of the season which is tied for first with sophomore Ashley Henderson.

Tulsa responded in the 84th minute, winning the ball in their own third and driving it forward to Blaine Schutte to bury a left-footed shot into the far corner. Henderson got the final big chance of the game, but Sanders would make her seventh and final save in the 87th minute.

The draw was enough for the Hurricane to secure the eighth and final seed in the AAC Tournament, meaning it will be a rematch on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. CT for a spot in the semifinals. The match will be broadcast 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.