Memphis Opens League Play at Tulsa Thursday

Thursday, September 24

Tulsa, Okla.

7:00 PM CT

University of Memphis

Tulsa

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Sep 23, 2015 | Women's Soccer

The Tigers take a 4-3-1 record into American Athletic Conference play

Memphis will swiftly turn its attention to the American Athletic Conference schedule as they open up on the road at Tulsa, Thursday at 7:00 pm at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium. Tulsa has had a great start to the season with a 9-1 record heading into league play.

"Our conference is doing fantastic this season and we've got our hands full," said Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan. "Tulsa has started 9-1 and last week they were ranked. But this is a new season now and we are playing for a trophy. We have to make sure we're focused on ourselves."

The Tigers have a 4-3-1 record through nonconference play and will host their final game outside of the league against Gonzaga, Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

Junior Valerie Sanderson and freshman Elizabeth Woerner share the team lead with three goals each, while Woerner has bagged two game-winners. Freshman Marie Levasseur is the only other Memphis player with multiple goals, scoring two in the last three matches.

Goalkeeper Maryse Bard-Martel has played every minute in goal for the Tigers so far this season and has made 38 consecutive starts, spanning more than 2,765 minutes, dating back to 2013.

Six freshmen have played significant minutes for Memphis through the first eight matches. Olivia Guathier and Catherine Levasseur have started every match, while Marie Levasseur and Elizabeth Woerner have started all but one. Chanel Hudson-Marks and Willa Taylor have each started three matches and played off the bench in others.

Memphis has lost its last two matches by a 2-1 scoreline. The coaching staff was disappointed with what they saw against Western Kentucky but the team's performance against Ole Miss provided some encouragement. The Tigers and Rebels battled into overtime and Memphis had a great chance to win it before Ole Miss eventually scored the winner.

"I like where we are right now but we need consistency. We have had a lot of highs and lows up to this point. Now it's time for us to come together as a group and find a groove," Monaghan said.

Tulsa, who earned the program's first ever national ranking last week, is 7-0 on its home field this season. After debuting at No. 19 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll, the Hurricane lost to Oklahoma before beating local rival Oral Roberts.

The sophomore scoring duo of Christina Holmes and Rachel Thun lead the team in goals. Holmes has scored five this season, while Thun has put three in the net to go with her seven assists.

Following Thursday's match the Tigers will return home Saturday for an "Alumni Weekend" double header with the men's team hosting UCF after the women's game.