Tigers Defeat Missouri on the Road Behind Kitagawa's First Collegiate Goal

Sunday, August 18

Columbia, Mo.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Missouri

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Memphis

Missouri

Tigers Defeat Missouri on the Road Behind Kitagawa's First Collegiate Goal

Aug 18, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The No. 10 Memphis women's soccer team picked up its first road win of the season on Sunday night, scoring two second-half goals to defeat Missouri, 2-0, at Walton Stadium.

Japanese midfielders Ai Kitagawa and Momo Nakao combined for Kitagawa's first career goal. The assist, a reverse pass to break the Mizzou defense, was Nakao's second of the early season. Memphis (2-0) stayed compact in defense to see the game out, and a last-minute goal in transition from transfer midfielder Maddie Eskin sealed the victory.

"Winning is not easy. It was not always pretty, but there were some great individual moments," head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "To be able to go into a tough environment and fight your way to a win always feels good."

With the victory, Memphis improves their record against SEC competition to 10-5-1 since 2018, including three of the last four dating back to last season.

Although Memphis enjoyed most of the possession early in the game, the hosts (1-1) found the first big chance on the end of a long free kick. An inviting ball from Milena Fischer found the head of Kylee Simmons from three yards out, but goalkeeper Kaylie Bierman reacted quickly to keep out the Missouri forward.

Memphis continued to control possession but struggled to break down a sturdy Mizzou defense until Nakao's line-breaking pass put Kitagawa through for the goal. Missouri started springing forward in attack more often as the game waned on, creating half-chances and winning free kicks in dangerous areas, but the visitors were able to effectively close up shop, limiting Bierman's action to only one save.

With the home team desperate for an equalizer, a long goal kick from defender Sarah Hagg that found Kitagawa was able to easily slice apart the defense. Rather than dribble it to the corner flag, midfielder Flavie Dube used the numbers advantage to cut inside from the right and find Ashley Henderson, who was able to poke it to Eskin for a late insurance goal with 13 seconds remaining.

Memphis will take on another SEC foe next Sunday, August 25, when they travel south to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on Ole Miss at 7 p.m.

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.