Forsgren's 87th-Minute Winner Sends Memphis to Conference Tournament Final

Wednesday, November 11

Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

13-3-3, 8-0-2

(4) Rice

7-8-5, 4-4-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Rice	0	2	2
Memphis	1	2	3

Match Notes

Nov 11, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Freshman Abby Forsgren delivered an 87th-minute match-winner as the top-seeded Memphis women's soccer team outlasted No. 4 seed Rice, 3-2, in the American Conference Championship semifinals Wednesday night in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Memphis (13-3-3) extended its unbeaten streak to 13 consecutive matches and advanced to its fifth American Conference Tournament championship match in the last six seasons. The Tigers will face No. 3 seed UAB on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT, seeking their first tournament title since 2023.

Junior Ai Kitagawa opened the scoring with just 20 seconds remaining in the first half before sophomore Ellis Kelly doubled the advantage shortly after the break. Rice (7-8-5) battled back with two second-half goals to level the match, but Forsgren came through in the closing minutes to send the Tigers into Saturday's final.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis broke through just before halftime when junior Ai Kitagawa unleashed a long-range strike from outside the box that sailed past the diving Rice goalkeeper with 20 seconds remaining. Yuna Nagata and Ava Gaida assisted on the goal, Kitagawa's team-leading 11th of the season and 27th of her Memphis career.
The Tigers wasted little time doubling their advantage after the intermission. In the 48th minute, sophomore Ellis Kelly took matters into her own hands on a breakaway, creating space before blasting a perfectly placed shot from outside the box into the top corner of the net. The unassisted goal marked Kelly's seventh of the season.
Rice began its comeback in the 64th minute when Jadyn Jaeger headed home a corner kick from Madeline Preusser and Valentina Labuschagne, cutting the Memphis lead to 2-1.
The Owls found the equalizer in the 76th minute off another corner kick, as Allie Love headed a delivery from Labuschagne into the back of the net to level the match at two goals apiece.
With the match appearing destined for overtime, freshman Abby Forsgren delivered the decisive moment in the 87th minute. Forsgren collected the ball, dribbled down the pitch and created space for herself before tucking a left-footed shot from outside the box past the diving Rice goalkeeper. The unassisted strike marked her sixth goal of the season and sent Memphis into the championship final.

NOTABLES

Memphis improved to 13-3-3 overall and advanced to the American Conference Championship final.
- The Tigers extended their unbeaten streak to 13 consecutive matches, dating back to their last defeat on Sept. 6 at No. 8 Ohio State.
- Memphis will appear in its fifth American Conference Tournament championship match in the last six seasons.
- The Tigers are seeking their first American Conference Tournament championship since 2023.
- Memphis improved to 13-0-3 this season when scoring first and 11-0-1 when leading at halftime.
Freshman Abby Forsgren netted the match-winning goal in the 87th minute, her sixth goal of the season.
- Forsgren now has 20 points in her debut campaign, coming from six goals and eight assists.
- The goal marked her third game-winner of the season.
Junior Ai Kitagawa opened the scoring with her team-leading 11th goal of the season and 27th of her Memphis career.
- The American Conference Midfielder of the Year now leads the Tigers with 30 points this season, coming from 11 goals and eight assists.
- Kitagawa has scored in both of Memphis' American Conference Tournament matches, following her Olimpico against North Texas in Sunday's quarterfinal.
- The junior led all players with five shots, including two on goal.
Sophomore Ellis Kelly doubled the Memphis advantage with her seventh goal of the season.
- The All-Conference Second Team selection has now recorded 18 points this season, coming from seven goals and four assists.
- Kelly finished the match with two shots, including one on goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Galani had a huge night, recording a career-high seven saves in the victory.
- Galani improved her record to 13-3-3 this season.
Memphis held a 15-11 advantage in shots, while Rice recorded a 9-5 edge in shots on goal.
- The Owls held a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.
- Memphis has now outshot its opponents 344-132 this season, including a 156-69 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Tigers have outscored their opponents 40-17 through 19 matches.
Ava Galani, Ava Gaida, Yuna Nagata, Mihiro Furuya, Evelyn Mackay, Ally Casey, Abby Forsgren, Ai Kitagawa and Maira Boosman each played all 90 minutes in the victory.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Half:

45' | Memphis 1 – 0 Rice – Ai Kitagawa (11) (Assist: Yuna Nagata, Ava Gaida)

Second Half:

48' | Memphis 2 – 0 Rice – Ellis Kelly (7)

64' | Memphis 2 – 1 Rice – Jadyn Jaeger (2) (Assist: Madeline Preusser, Valentina Labuschagne)

76' | Memphis 2 – 2 Rice – Allie Love (2) (Assist: Valentina Labuschagne)

87' | Memphis 3 – 2 Rice – Abby Forsgren (6)

Full-Time

UP NEXT

The Tigers advance to the American Conference Championship final and will take on No. 3 seed UAB on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.

For the Tigers' most recent and up-to-date schedule, click HERE.

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.