University of Memphis
4-0-0, 0-0-0
Vanderbilt
3-1-0, 0-0-0
Perron's Goal Propels No. 24 Memphis to Victory over No. 11 Vanderbilt
Aug 24, 2025 | Women's Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 24 Memphis women's soccer team defeated No. 11 Vanderbilt, 1-0, on Sunday evening at the Track and Soccer Stadium.
The Tigers (4-0) posted their third clean sheet in four games to start the season, and Elise Perron fired in a loose ball off a corner kick routine in the 55th minute to give Memphis their first ranked win at home since 2021 (5-0 against No. 14 SMU).
"Vanderbilt is a really good team; we changed our defensive system to try and nullify some of what they do," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "We knew coming in neither team would have a lot of chances. I'm proud of the girls, they really stepped up to the moment and fulfilled their potential tonight."
For the second consecutive year and fourth time in program history, Memphis is 4-0 to start the season (2011, 2017, 2024). The win over the 11th-ranked Commodores is the highest since defeating No. 9 Notre Dame in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Vanderbilt (15) and Memphis (14) led the country in goal differential heading into the match, but it was clear early on that scoring would be no easy task. The visitors logged their first shot 13 minutes into the game, which Abby Kudla dove to save. After being forced into just one save in her first three matches in net, the sophomore keeper made five saves in her biggest test to date.
The first half concluded with just eight total shots, the biggest of which came in the 21st minute from the foot of Vanderbilt's Brooke Dardano. After the ball bounced around the Memphis penalty area, she poked it towards the far corner of the net, but Finley Lavin was perfectly placed to clear it off the line.
The Tigers won their only two corners of the game in quick succession early in the second half, and it was the second one which Perron was able to cash in for the winner. Ai Kitagawa's delivery found the head of Evelyn Mackay, who knocked it off the far post and right to the feet of Perron who hit it past the scrambling keeper for her second goal of the season.
Vanderbilt sent numbers forward in search of a winner but only tested Kudla three times in the second half, as Memphis absorbed the pressure and saw the game to victory.
The No. 24 Tigers are back at home this Thursday, August 28, at 7:30 p.m. as part of another men's and women's soccer doubleheader. The men take on Mercer at 5:00 and the women will follow with another SEC battle against Missouri.
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.
Team Stats
Elise Perron (2)
GOAL by MEM Perron, Elise.
54:41
