No. 21 Memphis Drops Heartbreaker to Alabama, 2-1

Saturday, August 15

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Alabama

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Alabama	1	1	2
Memphis	0	1	1

Aug 15, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 21 ranked Memphis women's soccer team suffered its third-ever loss at the Track & Soccer Complex on Saturday night, falling 2-1 to Alabama.

Taliah Brooks scored the lone goal for the Tigers (1-1-0), finishing a cross from Ai Kitagawa less than two minutes into the second half to level the match. Alabama won a free kick in the late stages of the match, where Avery Brown headed in the game-winning goal with just six seconds remaining.

The loss ended the Tigers' 41-game home unbeaten streak, dating back to the 2021 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis generated six shots and five corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, but Alabama (2-0-0) struck first in the 28th minute when Larkin Thomason converted a penalty kick to give the Crimson Tide a 1-0 advantage.
The Tigers responded immediately after halftime. In the 47th minute, Kitagawa delivered a cross to Brooks, who slotted it home to even the match at 1-1.
Memphis continued to push for the go-ahead goal, recording six shots in the second half and forcing Alabama goalkeeper Madi Munguia into two saves.
With the match appearing headed for a draw, Alabama found the game-winner with six seconds remaining. Melina Rebimbas set up Avery Brown, who scored in the 90th minute to give the Crimson Tide a 2-1 victory.

NOTABLES

Memphis outshot Alabama 12-9, recording six attempts in each half. The Tigers also held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Kitagawa led the Tigers with four shots and recorded the assist on Brooks' goal. Abby Forsgren added two shots, including one on goal.
- Brooks' goal was the fourth of her Memphis career.
- Kitagawa's assist was the 12th of her career and gave her five points through the Tigers' first two matches of the season.
Ava Galani played the full 90 minutes in goal and made two saves, while Evelyn Mackay, Ally Casey, Yuna Nagata and Finley Lavin also went the distance.
Ava Gaida made her season debut, playing 23 minutes off the bench.
The loss moved Memphis to 1-1-0 on the season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Half:

28' | Alabama 1 – 0 Memphis – Larkin Thomason (Pen.)

Second Half:

47' | Memphis 1 – 1 Alabama – Taliah Brooks (Assist: Ai Kitagawa)

90' | Alabama 2 – 1 Memphis – Avery Brown (Assist: Melina Rebimbas)

Full-Time

Memphis will return to action for its first road match of the season on August 21, traveling to No. 5 Vanderbilt for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

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.