Conference Champion Tigers Head to UAB for Regular-Season Finale

Tuesday, November 3

Birmingham, Ala.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

UAB

Nov 02, 2026 | Women's Soccer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis women's soccer team wraps up its regular-season slate on Tuesday, Nov. 3, traveling to Birmingham, Ala., to face UAB at 7 p.m. CT. The Tigers enter the contest having already secured their fourth consecutive American Conference regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming American Conference Tournament.

Memphis (7-0-2 American) clinched its 17th conference championship in program history on Friday with a commanding 3-0 victory over East Carolina at home. The Tigers remain the last unbeaten team in American Conference play and will look to complete their fourth consecutive undefeated conference regular season.

Sophomore Ellis Kelly opened the scoring in the 14th minute against East Carolina, controlling a long ball from freshman Abby Forsgren before blasting a low, driven shot into the back of the net to give Memphis an early advantage.

Sophomore Zerina Markovic doubled the Tigers' lead in the 32nd minute when Kelly nearly found her second goal of the match before Markovic pounced on the rebound and slotted it into the empty net for her fourth goal of the season.

Kelly capped off her career-high five-point performance in the 71st minute, forcing a turnover before cutting onto her left foot and unleashing a rocket into the upper-left corner to seal the victory. The sophomore's brace brought her season total to six goals and pushed her career tally to 11.

SCOUTING REPORT

UAB enters Tuesday's matchup with a 9-7-1 overall record and a 6-3-0 mark in American Conference play. The Blazers sit second in the conference standings and rank No. 72 in the NCAA RPI.

The Blazers are coming off a 1-0 victory over South Florida on Friday, with leading scorer Avery Berryman providing the match's lone goal. UAB's notable results this season include a 2-0 road victory over No. 46 Samford and a 2-0 defeat at No. 202 Temple.

Memphis holds a 17-9-3 advantage in the all-time series and has not lost to UAB since a 2-1 defeat in 2009. However, the Blazers have challenged the Tigers in recent meetings, holding Memphis to a scoreless draw in Birmingham in 2024 before the two sides played to a 1-1 draw in Memphis last season.

UAB is led by interim head coach Mark Hiller, who took over the program on Oct. 5 and has posted a 3-2 record since assuming the role. Hiller has been on the Blazers' staff since 2023 and previously served as the head coach at Division II Delta State, where he compiled a 26-14-7 record.

The Blazers' attack is led by senior forwards Avery Berryman and Lailah Stewart. Berryman leads UAB with seven goals, ranking sixth in the American Conference, and a team-high 18 points. Stewart has added six goals of her own, ranking ninth in the conference.

Sophomore goalkeeper Macie Murphy has anchored the Blazers' defense, ranking third in the American Conference with six shutouts across 13 appearances.

As a team, UAB ranks 35th nationally in fewest fouls per game (7.06) and 57th in shot accuracy (.493).

TIGER TIDBITS

Since 2023, Memphis owns a 60-8-10 overall record and an .833 winning percentage. Only No. 22 Florida State (.850) has posted a higher winning percentage over that span.
The Tigers have been equally dominant in conference play, posting a 31-0-7 record and a .908 winning percentage against conference opponents since 2023. Only Milwaukee (.927) and Utah Valley (.919) have recorded higher conference winning percentages during that stretch.
Memphis has not lost a regular-season conference match since Oct. 27, 2022, when the Tigers fell on the road at SMU.
Freshman Abby Forsgren recorded two assists in Friday's victory over East Carolina, moving into a tie for second in program history for assists by a freshman. Her eight assists match Mya Jones' freshman total and put her just one shy of Jessica Lisi's program record of nine, set in 2016.
Through 16 matches, Memphis has outshot its opponents 296-109, including a 134-53 advantage in shots on goal. The Tigers have also held a commanding 104-38 edge in corner kicks.
Head coach Brooks Monaghan has called upon several freshmen and transfers to make significant contributions this season:
- Freshman Miyu Morota has appeared in 10 matches, totaling 158 minutes.
- Freshman Ella Etienne has played 107 minutes across seven appearances, recording her first collegiate assist against Tulsa.
- Freshman Marika Martineau has appeared in 13 matches, logging 288 minutes.
- Freshman Neko Michell has totaled 180 minutes across nine matches, earning her first collegiate start at No. 8 Ohio State.
- Transfer Zerina Markovic has appeared in all 16 matches, playing 593 minutes while recording four goals and one assist.
- Freshman Abby Forsgren has made an immediate impact, starting every match for the Tigers and playing 1,396 of 1,440 possible minutes. She has contributed four goals and eight assists while recording 45 shots, including 21 on goal.
- Transfer Natalie Dvorakova has played 328 minutes across 12 matches, making two starts and scoring her first collegiate goal.
- Freshman Maira Boosman has played a significant role in the Tigers' back line, starting 14 of 16 matches and totaling 1,185 minutes.
Several returning Tigers have also taken on expanded roles and increased their production this season:
- Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Galani has taken over the starting role in net, playing 1,425 of 1,440 possible minutes while recording six shutouts.
- Sophomore Ava Gaida has made 13 starts this season after entering the campaign without a collegiate start. She has now appeared in 27 career matches.
- Redshirt freshman Grayson Williams made her collegiate debut this season and earned her first career start at No. 8 Ohio State. Williams later scored her first two collegiate goals in a span of just 16 minutes off the bench at Florida Atlantic.

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

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