Five Tigers Score in 6-0 Victory on Opening Night

Thursday, August 14

Memphis, Tenn.

6:00 p.m.

University of Memphis

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Southern Miss

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Southern Miss.

Memphis

Aug 14, 2025 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A member of every Memphis women's soccer class scored on Thursday evening at the Track and Soccer Stadium, as the Tigers cruised to a 6-0 victory over Southern Miss in the season-opener. It marked the fourth consecutive season in which the Tigers scored six in the opening game.

Freshman Ellis Kelly opened the scoring in the fifth minute on her way to two goals and an assist, and senior Flavie Dube scored and assisted on her senior night. Taliah Brooks, Ashley Henderson and Elise Perron each found the back of the net as well for the Tigers' (1-0) 12th season-opening victory in the past 13 years.

"It was a great first match," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "We got everyone that is eligible on the field to play, which is always special because that is not always the case."

After Kelly opened her collegiate scorecard with a left-footed finish on a through pass by Henderson, the Tigers maintained their pressure but were unable to beat the USM (0-1) offsides traps. The Lady Eagles' high line came back to bite them in the 27th minute, as Dube headed a ball into space that Kelly ran onto, crossing it to Perron to smash into an open net.

The Memphis avalanche would continue to close the half, as the junior Henderson got her goal in the 35th minute off a cutback from freshman substitute Mihiro Furuya. Six minutes later, after Natalie Leibel's shot was well-stopped by USM goalkeeper Maddie Ellis, Brooks fired the rebound over the keeper and defenders for a goal in her collegiate debut.

The Tigers got their fifth goal early in the second half, with Dube finishing off a pass from Ai Kitagawa. Things would stall for a majority of the second half as the Tigers heavily substituted, but Kelly and Brooks would connect with 23 minutes remaining in the game for the sixth and final score.

Neither Abby Kudla nor Ava Galani were tested in the net for the hosts, as USM could only garner four shots to the Tigers' 16.

Memphis will be back at the Track and Soccer Stadium this Sunday, August 17, to battle with Ole Miss at 7:00 p.m. 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.