Top-Seeded Tigers Open American Conference Tournament Against North Texas

Sunday, November 8

Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

(8) North Texas

Nov 07, 2026 | Women's Soccer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis women's soccer team begins its quest for an American Conference Tournament championship as the top-seeded Tigers take on No. 8 seed North Texas in the opening round of the 2026 American Conference Tournament in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT Sunday night, with the match broadcast live on ESPN+.

Memphis (11-3-3, 8-0-2 American) enters the postseason having captured its fourth consecutive American Conference regular-season championship and 17th conference title in program history. The Tigers completed their fourth straight undefeated conference regular season and will look to claim their first conference tournament championship since 2023.

The Tigers closed out the regular season Tuesday with a thrilling 2-1 road victory over UAB, extending their American Conference unbeaten streak to 39 consecutive matches.

Freshman Abby Forsgren opened the scoring just before halftime, collecting a pass from junior Ai Kitagawa before unleashing a long-range strike into the upper-left corner of the net. The goal marked Forsgren's fifth of her freshman campaign.

After UAB leveled the match from the penalty spot in the 59th minute, Kitagawa delivered the game-winner in the 77th minute with a long-distance strike of her own. The goal was Kitagawa's ninth of the season and 25th of her Memphis career, securing all three points for the Tigers in their regular-season finale.

Memphis also collected a haul of American Conference postseason honors, highlighted by sophomore Yuna Nagata earning Defensive Player of the Year and junior Ai Kitagawa being named Midfielder of the Year.

Kitagawa and Nagata were joined by Evelyn Mackay on the All-Conference First Team, while Ally Casey, Ellis Kelly and Abby Forsgren earned Second Team recognition. Third Team selections Mihiro Furuya and Ava Galani as well as All-Freshman Team members Abby Forsgren and Maira Boosman rounded out the Tigers' postseason honorees.

With this year's honors, Memphis has now collected 35 conference Player of the Year awards in program history, including eight Offensive, eight Defensive, seven Midfielder, two Goalkeeper and 10 Freshman of the Year selections. The Tigers also pushed their all-time All-Conference selections to 150, consisting of 61 First Team, 41 Second Team, 10 Third Team and 38 All-Freshman Team honors.

SCOUTING REPORT

North Texas enters the American Conference Tournament with a 6-6-6 overall record after finishing eighth in the conference standings. The Mean Green secured their postseason berth after earning results in each of their final five conference matches and rank No. 143 in the NCAA RPI.

One of North Texas' most notable results came against Memphis on Oct. 25, when the Mean Green held the Tigers to a 1-1 draw in Denton. Memphis took the lead in the 64th minute on an Ellis Kelly header before North Texas responded just one minute later with the equalizer off a corner kick.

Memphis leads the all-time series 3-0-2, having won all three previous meetings at home. The Tigers' only two trips to Denton have ended in draws, making the tournament opener the first neutral-site meeting between the programs.

The Mean Green are led by longtime head coach John Hedlund, who has guided the program since its inception. Hedlund owns a 412-174-61 career record and ranks 13th all-time in NCAA Division I women's soccer victories and sixth among active head coaches. He is also the winningest coach across all sports in North Texas Athletics history.

Junior forward Claire Niedermeier leads the North Texas attack with an American Conference-best 14 goals through 18 matches. Niedermeier has accounted for 42.4 percent of the Mean Green's 33 goals this season and ranks 13th nationally in total goals.

As a team, North Texas ranks 32nd nationally in shots per game (16.33), 31st in yellow cards (22) and 62nd in shots on goal per game (6.89).

TIGER TIDBITS

Since 2023, Memphis owns a 61-8-10 overall record and an .835 winning percentage. Only No. 10 Florida State (.840) has posted a higher winning percentage over that span.
The Tigers have been equally dominant in conference play, posting a 32-0-7 record and a .910 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.
The Tigers have completed four consecutive undefeated American Conference regular seasons, extending their conference unbeaten streak to 39 matches.
Through 17 matches, Memphis has outshot its opponents 312-114, including a 145-56 advantage in shots on goal. The Tigers have also held a commanding 113-39 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 14 matches, logging 296 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 17 matches, playing 619 minutes while recording four goals and one assist.
- Freshman Abby Forsgren has made an immediate impact, starting every match for the Tigers and playing 1,486 of 1,530 possible minutes. She has contributed five goals and eight assists while recording 48 shots, including 23 on goal.
- Transfer Natalie Dvorakova has played 336 minutes across 13 matches, making two starts and scoring her first collegiate goal.
- Freshman Maira Boosman has played a significant role in the Tigers' back line, starting 15 of 17 matches and totaling 1,275 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 1,515 of 1,530 possible minutes while recording six shutouts.
- Sophomore Ava Gaida has made 14 starts this season after entering the campaign without a collegiate start. She has now appeared in 28 career matches.
- Redshirt freshman Grayson Williams made her first appearance for the Tigers 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.

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.