Tigers women's soccer players run up the field with the ball last season. This year's team started off 2-1 with their only loss to Mississippi State.
The Memphis Tigers women’s soccer team played two games over the weekend, Sept. 16 and Sept. 19, pushing their record to 6-2-1.
The women’s soccer team tied 2-2 against Oklahoma State on Friday and won 5-0 against UT Martin on Sunday.
In the win over Oklahoma State, the first goal was scored by Jessica Lisi, a freshman middle forward from Woodbridge, Ontario, on a penalty kick which was her first goal of the season. Valerie Sanderson, a senior forward from Boisbriand, Quebec, tied the score with a rebound off the Oklahoma State goalkeeper.
The game ended in overtime with neither team scoring, leaving the game tied.
Head coach Brooks Monaghan said that the team entered the game knowing it was going to be a tough match.
“Oklahoma State is a top program, and we have a young team,†Monaghan said. “We didn’t have the best performance in our last match against Oklahoma, so I thought it was a true test of character to see how we responded after a not so great performance.â€
The squad gave up two soft goals scored on set pieces, or free kicks, during the game. Monaghan said that out of eight goals the team has given up this season, seven have been from free kicks.
“Our mentality gave us a chance to win, but we have to improve on our defensive set pieces,†Monaghan said. “We need to focus on being more alert and aggressive, and on being proactive instead of reactive.â€
The Tigers took their sixth win in a blow out against UT Martin.
“I was concerned going into the Martin game because the Oklahoma State game was so emotional,†Monaghan said. “We really challenged our kids by playing less than 48 hours later. But our mentality and the pressure we put on UT Martin created chances for us and that’s how we won our game.â€
Olivia Gauthier, a sophomore center back from Saint John, New Brunswick said that the UT Martin game was one of the best team performance this season.
“The first game against Oklahoma State went pretty well too,†Gauthier said. “Everyone was happy with our performance and how we came back after they scored.â€
The team can refocus before the conference season during their bye week.
“This break comes at a very good time,†Monaghan said. “Our kids have been here since the beginning of July so they haven’t really had a break. It gives us time to get our legs back under us and get our kids fully healthy; that is crucial going into a conference play.â€
The team will soon launch a campaign to raise money for an on campus soccer facility, Monaghan said.
“We have been at Mike Rose for well over ten years, and it’s a great complex, but I believe as a coach that college athletics are meant to be played on campus,†Monaghan said. “It’s a long drive out and it’s hard to get students out there.â€
“It’s time to come home,†Monaghan said. “That is the plan that were looking forward to; it’s going to happen.â€
