The University of Memphis women’s soccer notched the No. 2 seed in the American Athletic Conference tournament with a 4-1 win over SMU on Sunday.
The Tigers (9-5-4, 6-1-2 AAC) will play the winner of East Carolina and Houston, a game that will be played on Friday at Mike Rose Soccer Complex, on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Blue and Gray, who finished just behind Central Florida in the American regular season, closed the regular season with a five game winning streak.
Coach Brooks Monaghan said his team gutted out a tough win on the road, and everyone on the team contributed.
"I thought it was a great team win," Monaghan, in his 14th season at the helm, said after the game. "We got an early goal, which really helped. I thought the kids really gritted it out today. I don't think it was a pretty soccer game by any means, but it's a typical Sunday game. It was hot and in Texas, and it's about grinding it out. Players on the bench really provided a spark when they came on, or even if they didn't come on. The energy that they brought to their teammates by cheering was massive today."
The U of M wasted no time against the Mustangs (6-13, 2-17 AAC), netting a goal in the third minute of the foot of senior Kelley Gravlin. Senior midfielder Nugene Nugent found Gravlin alone in the box, and Gravlin put the goal away in the far corner.
The goal gave Nugent her third assist and Gravlin her second goal of the weekend. Monaghan said the two veterans are peaking at the right time with the postseason just around the corner.
The Tigers kept their feet on the gas throughout the first half, outshooting the Mustangs 8-3. Maryse Bard-Martel, Memphis’ keeper, saw little action in the opening half with just one save.
A Marissa Duguay steal set up Valerie Sanderson’s 11th goal of the season for the Tigers, and gave them a comfortable 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.
The remainder of the half was merely a formality. Sanderson netted her second goal of the game and Nugent scored one of her own. SMU also scored, but it was too little to late.
Memphis entered Sunday’s contest with South Florida breathing down its neck. Knowing a win would secure a second-place finish in the AAC’s regular season, the Tigers gave a near-flawless effort, which Monaghan said was good to see with tournament play coming up next weekend.
