Late Goals Propel No. 7/7 Tigers to 15th Consecutive Home Victory

Sunday, September 8

Memphis, Tenn.

10 a.m.

University of Memphis

5-0-0, 0-0-0

Kansas State

3-3-1, 0-0-0

Kansas St.

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Late Goals Propel No. 7/7 Tigers to 15th Consecutive Home Victory

Sep 08, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 7/7 Memphis women's soccer team scored two goals in the final seven minutes of the match to beat Kansas State, 2-0, on Sunday morning at the Track and Soccer Stadium.

Knocking on the door for much of the game, a cross from freshman Elise Perron found the head of Ashley Henderson for a goal in the 84th minute. Three minutes later, freshman Alex Mackay turned her defender and fired a rocket into the bottom-left corner for her first career goal.

"There were frustrating moments today, but that is to be expected a bit with a 10:00 a.m. start time," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "To find a way to score despite not playing our best can hopefully be a step in the right direction."

Memphis (5-0) extends their nation-high home winning streak to 15 games. Through 450 minutes of action, the Tigers are yet to trail at any point.

Though it required a couple late-minute goals, it was undoubtedly a deserved win as Memphis tallied 18 shots – including 12 in the second half – to just four from the Wildcats.

Kansas State (3-3-1) took control of the opening 10 minutes, winning several corners and forcing clearances from the Tiger defense. Memphis settled in and found the first true chance of the game when Momo Nakao slipped a pass into Ai Kitagawa, whose shot was saved.

Fighting through windy conditions, the Tigers battled to a stalemate in the first half. They came out reinvigorated to start the second half, controlling the ball in the Wildcats half for practically the entire first 10 minutes.

The Kansas State defense remained stingy, blocking a shot from Henderson in the 61st minute that trickled just wide of the post. Nakao skied a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 81st minute as the game hung in the balance.

The Wildcats began to show a few cracks in defense, and a through ball from Anna Hauer found the feet of Perron who tallied her first assist on the cross to Henderson. Not ready to shut down the attack just yet, the Tigers worked it well through the midfield to find Mackay for the second goal, again assisted by Perron. It marked the first two collegiate assists of her young career in what was her first appearance since Missouri on Aug. 18.

The Tigers will play their first mid-week game since the season-opener this Thursday, traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee, to take on Tennessee at 6 p.m. The match will be streamed 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.