No. 8/10 Tigers Defeat Ole Miss Behind Kitagawa's Brace

Sunday, August 25

Oxford, Miss

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

3-0-0, 0-0-0

Ole Miss

2-1-0, 0-0-0

Memphis

Ole Miss

No. 8/10 Tigers Defeat Ole Miss Behind Kitagawa's Brace

Aug 25, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. -- Freshman midfielder Ai Kitagawa scored her second game-winner in as many games on Sunday evening, helping the No. 8/10 Memphis women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Ole Miss at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.

The Japan native scored a sensational goal with her left foot from just outside the 18-yard line, crashing it into the top-left corner. She followed it up eight minutes later with a curled, right-footed finish that Rebel Shu Ohba goalkeeper could only push into the back of the net. She becomes the fastest player to reach three goals at Memphis in the Brooks Monaghan era (2000-present).

"I was pleased with the overall performance tonight. The team played with a lot of discipline and followed the game plan," said Monaghan, who extended the nation's longest active winning streak to nine games. "We are going to need to be better with our finishing in the future, but I thought we created quite a few good opportunities."

Memphis (3-0) took control of the match from the start; their high press hindered Ole Miss' (2-1) plans to build up from defense. Their patience on the ball led to the first chance of the game in the 25th minute when Momo Nakao found Ashley Henderson in the box, but her shot was saved.

Henderson also found herself on the end of a deflected cross in the 31st minute but sent it over the bar. Right before the end of the half, substitute Flavie Dube made a clever cut to get on the end of a cutback from Anna Hauer but also shot it high.

The Tiger pressure sustained into the second half and it finally resulted in a goal in the 51st minute when Kitagawa found her way to a loose ball and fired it in. Ole Miss began to find attacks after conceding, but it left them exposed in defense and Kitagawa capitalized with her second goal just eight minutes later. Henderson provided the assist, her second of the season. Kitagawa joins Henderson (Alabama A&M) as the two Tigers to record multiple goals in a game this season.

The match became cagey as it winded down, as neither team was able to sustain many attacks and eight fouls were committed, including two that resulted in Rebel yellow cards. In the 87th minute, a shot deflected off of defender Finley Lavin's arm, resulting in a penalty kick that Kelly Brady converted to make the score 2-1.

The victory marks Memphis' third straight against the SEC, improving their record to 11-5-1 against the conference since 2018.

The Tigers are back at home Sunday, Sept. 1, as they host Iowa State at 8 pm in a doubleheader with the men's team.

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.