Women’s Soccer Opens Season Friday at Mike Rose Soccer Complex

Friday, August 18

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

Samford

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Women’s Soccer Opens Season Friday at Mike Rose Soccer Complex

Aug 17, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Tigers face two tough opponents in the opening weekend

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Picked to win the 2017 American Athletic Conference title, the University of Memphis women's soccer team is ready to step on the field and prove that they are worthy of that preseason honor. The Tigers will have a tough test right out of the gate, hosting perennial NCAA Tournament contender Samford on Friday at 7 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex in the season opener.

"I think this group is ready," Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan said. "That doesn't mean that you expect your team to be perfect yet. But at this point in the season, they are ready to step on the field and give a good performance. Expectations are high and it is go time."

The Tigers will have a quick follow-up after Friday's season opener, with a match on Sunday against Little Rock at 7:00 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

Memphis is looking to start off strong at home after putting together a stellar 14-5-1 season last year that ended in an overtime loss in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are hoping to extend their undefeated streak at home to 10 games after not losing at home last year, with nine of the 11 starters returning.

The Tigers are led by returning goal scorers Jessica Lisi and Marie Levassuer, the second and third leading scorers from last year. Those two, as well as Olivia Gauthier were named Preseason All-Conference, tied for the most players named from a single team in the American Athletic Conference.

This year's squad will have the tough task of replacing a pair of four-year starters in goalkeeper Maryse Bard-Martel and forward Valerie Sanderson. The biggest question mark leading into the opening match might be who will start in goal. Redshirt junior Rachel Ashworth Shepard made her debut on the field last season as Bard-Martel's backup, but the coaching staff also has plenty of faith in freshmen Morgan Berg and Elizabeth Moberg.

Samford, the three-time defending Southern Conference regular season champs, will give the Tigers a tough test right out of the gate. Samford is coming off of a strong 15-4-2 record last year, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the last meeting between Samford and Memphis in 2015, the Bulldogs came out with the win. Sunday's opponent Little Rock also got the win over the Tigers last season.

"Don't think that you ever forget the last time you played a team, whether on the winning side or the losing side. Last time we played Samford they gave us a beat down and that is on our mind and our kids are very aware of that. You hope that's extra motivation from our group. You don't like to lose to the same team twice in a row, not in this program," Monaghan said.

The Tigers will play a total of seven matches at Mike Rose Soccer Complex, in addition to two matches on the Park Avenue Campus. Admission is always free for home Memphis soccer matches. Follow the Tigers on Facebook at /MemphisWSoccer and Twitter and Instagram at @MemphisWSoccer.