After missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 last season, Memphis women’s soccer kicked off their regular season on South Campus against Southern Miss.
This game was also senior night; the team honored their lone graduating player Flavie Dube before the game. With a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule ahead of them, the Tigers made quick work of the Golden Eagles, winning 6-0.
“It’s a great first match,” said Brooks Monaghan after coaching the opener of his 26th season with the Tigers. “We got everyone on the field that was eligible to play today. Those are always special games because that’s not always the case.”
The Tigers put the pressure on early, scoring their first goal in less than five minutes by freshman forward Ellis Kelly. Making her collegiate debut, she scored a pair of goals and picked up an assist in the 26th minute.
“We’re excited about her; she’s one of the ones we talked about [when mentioning her] physicality. We’ve kind of challenged her, she’s a quiet kid…and she stepped up to the challenge,” said Monaghan.
Memphis was able to find the back of the net two more times in the first 45 minutes: Ashley Henderson sneaked past Southern Miss’s keeper in the 34th and Taliah Brooks capitalized on a rebounded save to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead going into halftime.
After the break, there was little let-up from the home team. Wanting to make a statement to the rest of the country, Memphis scored two more times in the second half and ended the game outshooting the Golden Eagles 16-4.
One of those second period goals was scored by Dube, whose parents made the trip from Canada to see her play in person.
“I’m just happy for her. Her parents are here, and I think that’s the first time they’ve been here so for her to do that, she’ll remember that one,” said Monaghan.
The Tigers will be back in action on August 17 as they welcome the Ole Miss Rebels to South Campus, kicking off at 7:00 PM.
