Tigers Head to Sunshine State for Conference Matches at South Florida, Florida Atlantic

Thursday, September 24

Tampa, Fla.

5 p.m.

University of Memphis

South Florida

Tigers Head to Sunshine State for Conference Matches at South Florida, Florida Atlantic

Sep 23, 2026 | Women's Soccer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis women's soccer team hits the road for its first two away matches of American Conference play this week, traveling to South Florida on Thursday before facing Florida Atlantic on Sunday.

The Tigers will take on the Bulls at 5 p.m. CT Thursday in a nationally televised matchup on ESPNU before closing the road swing against the Owls at 5 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN+.

Memphis opened conference play with three points Thursday, shutting out Rice, 2-0, at home to move into second place in the American Conference standings.

Sophomore Yuna Nagata was named American Conference Defensive Player of the Week following her performance against the Owls. Nagata helped Memphis record a clean sheet while providing an assist on the Tigers' second goal of the night.

Junior Ai Kitagawa earned American Conference Midfielder of the Week honors after sealing the victory with a goal in the 81st minute in her return to the starting lineup. The goal was Kitagawa's fourth of the season and 20th of her Memphis career, making her the 15th player in program history to reach the 20-goal mark.

Sophomore Ava Galani and freshman Abby Forsgren each earned American Conference Honorable Mentions. Galani made four saves while recording her third shutout of the season, while Forsgren opened the scoring in the 21st minute with her second career goal.

SCOUTING REPORT

Game One: at South Florida

South Florida enters Thursday's matchup with a 2-4-2 record after earning a point in its conference opener with a 1-1 draw at North Texas. The Bulls currently sit seventh in the American Conference standings.

South Florida leads the all-time series, 15-8-2, but Memphis has won each of the previous two meetings. The Bulls are the last current American Conference member to defeat the Tigers, doing so on Oct. 6, 2022. When the programs met last season in Memphis, the Tigers earned a convincing 3-0 victory.

The Bulls are led by head coach Chris Brown, who owns a 23-14-10 record in his third season with the program. Including his previous six seasons at VCU, Brown holds a 91-55-26 career record.

Junior forward Sophia Cabral leads the South Florida attack with seven points, three goals and eight shots on goal. Junior midfielder Maya Hindson has recorded a team-high 15 shots, while senior attacker Yui Suetsugu leads the Bulls with two assists.

South Florida currently sits No. 232 in the NCAA RPI, while Memphis enters the week at No. 36.

Game Two: at Florida Atlantic

Florida Atlantic enters the week with a 3-3-4 record and sits third in the American Conference standings after earning three points with a 3-2 comeback victory over Charlotte. The Owls trailed 2-0 at halftime before scoring in the 48th, 51st and 84th minutes to complete the comeback.

Memphis has won all five previous meetings against Florida Atlantic, outscoring the Owls 12-2 across those matches. When the programs met last season in Memphis, Ai Kitagawa scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute to lift the Tigers to victory.

Florida Atlantic is led by head coach Patrick Baker, who owns a 114-107-42 record with the Owls. Across stops at Florida State, Penn, Rollins, N.C. Wesleyan, Georgia and Florida Atlantic, Baker has compiled a 359-269-72 career record.

Junior forward Hailey Santiago leads the Owls offensively and is tied for the American Conference lead with nine goals, a mark that ranks sixth nationally. Santiago also leads Florida Atlantic in points (20), shots (32), shots on goal (17) and game-winning goals (2). Freshman midfielder Lola Hathorne has contributed a team-high three assists.

The Owls rank 26th nationally in shot accuracy (.545), 57th in total goals (19) and 80th in saves per game (4.9). Florida Atlantic currently sits No. 151 in the NCAA RPI.

TIGER TIDBITS

Since the start of the 2023 season, the Tigers own a 54-8-8 record and an .829 win percentage. Only No. 22 Florida State (.856) has posted a higher win percentage over that span.
Memphis is 25-0-5 against conference opponents since 2023, posting an .917 win percentage. Only Utah Valley (.923) owns a higher conference win percentage over that span.
The Tigers have not lost a regular-season conference match since Oct. 27, 2022, at SMU.
Memphis has received at least one vote in 48 consecutive United Soccer Coaches polls dating back to the final poll of the 2022 season. The Tigers received two votes in this week's poll.
Through eight matches, Memphis has outshot its opponents 141-66, including a 59-33 advantage in shots on goal. The Tigers also hold a 55-25 advantage in corner kicks.

Head coach Brooks Monaghan has called on several newcomers to play significant roles early this season:
- Freshman Miyu Morota has played 115 minutes across four matches.
- Freshman Ella Etienne has logged 60 minutes across four appearances.
- Freshman Marika Martineau has appeared in all eight matches, totaling 50 minutes.
- Freshman Neko Michell has played 144 minutes across four matches and earned her first career start at No. 8 Ohio State.
- Transfer Zerina Markovic has logged 278 minutes across all eight matches, making one start.
- Freshman Abby Forsgren has made an immediate impact, starting all eight matches and playing 685 of a possible 720 minutes. She has recorded two goals, two assists, 23 shots and 12 shots on goal.
- Transfer Natalie Dvorakova has played 259 minutes across six matches, earning two starts and scoring the first goal of her collegiate career.
- Freshman Maira Boosman has taken on a significant role in the Tigers' back line, making six starts in eight appearances and totaling 470 minutes.
Several returning Tigers have also taken on expanded roles this season:
- Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Galani has moved into the starting role and played every minute in net through the Tigers' first eight matches, recording three shutouts.
- Sophomore Ava Gaida has started five of her 19 career appearances, with all five starts coming this season.
- Redshirt freshman Grayson Williams made her first appearance as a Tiger this season before earning her first career start at No. 8 Ohio State.

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

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