Women’s Soccer To Host Memphis Tournament This Weekend

Friday, September 8

Memphis, Tenn.

7:30 PM

University of Memphis

Rice

Photo by: Don Claussen

Women’s Soccer To Host Memphis Tournament This Weekend

Sep 07, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Tournament Central

The Tigers will take on Rice Friday evening and Ole Miss Sunday night

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 18 University of Memphis women's soccer team returns home this weekend to host Ole Miss, Rice, and Tulsa in the Memphis Tournament at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The undefeated Tigers will take on Rice Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Ole Miss Sunday night at 7 p.m.

Both Friday and Sunday will feature two matches as Tulsa takes on Ole Miss Friday and Rice on Sunday.

MATCH INFORMATION:

Friday, September 8
No. 18 Memphis vs. Rice
Location: Memphis, Tenn. – 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Twitter Updates: @MemphisWSoccer
Promotion: Rally Towels – first 150 fans
Live Stats | Watch

Sunday, September 10
No. 18 Memphis vs. Ole Miss
Location: Memphis, Tenn. – 7 p.m.
Venue: Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Twitter Updates: @MemphisWSoccer
Promotion: Custom Spatulas – first 150 fans
Live Stats | Watch

Five Things To Know About Memphis
There are many facts fans need to know about the Memphis women's soccer team, but here are just a few coming into the weekend.

Memphis jumped up to No. 18 in the TopDrawerSoccer poll this past week after shutting out Rhode Island and Big 10 foe Indiana last weekend at the Music City Invitational. The Tigers are also receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll for the second-straight week.
Defender Olivia Gauthier was named the American Athletic Conference Defender of the Week last week after anchoring the Tiger backline and allowing just 14 shots all weekend. Memphis has tallied four shutouts this season with Rachel Ashworth Shepard in net. Ashworth Shepard was named to the Weekly Honor Roll.
The Tigers rank in the top 15 in the NCAA in eight categories; scoring offense, goals against average, shutout percentage, won-lost-tied percentage, save percentage, points per game, total goals, and total points. Memphis is one of just 14 programs in the country to remain undefeated and the Tigers scoring average of 3.2 goals per game ranks ninth in the country. The Tigers have already scored 16 goals this season while allowing just one.
Individually, Rachel Ashworth Shepard ranks 11^th among all NCAA goalkeepers with a .192 goals against average. She also boasts a .941 save percentage which is 13^th and her four shutouts rank fourth in the country. Marie Levasseur and Jessica Lisi are one off the nation's leaders in game-winning goals with two each. Elizabeth Woerner, with a team-leading four goals scored, currently ranks 26^th in the country.
With her four goals scored through five matches, Woerner is just one goal shy of matching her career-high set in 2016. In her career, she has scored 13 goals. Levasseur leads all players on the Tiger squad with 14 career goals.

A Look At Rice
The Rice Owls enter Friday's match with a 2-1-1 record. After losing their opening day match at Texas, the Owls have rebounded with wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston, as well as a double overtime tie against Baylor.

Rice is led in scoring by Nia Stallings, who has three goals on the season. Six other Owls have scored a goal in 2017. The team also has 10 assists on their nine goals, with junior forward Marissa Topolski leading the way with three assists to her name.

In goal for this Rice squad is sophomore Maya Hoyer, who has played all 380 minutes this season. In her time in the net, Hoyer has allowed only three goals, while recording two shutouts. Hoyer has 14 saves on the season, including 10 saves in second halves and overtimes.

A Look At Ole Miss
Ole Miss heads into the weekend 5-0-1, thoroughly defeating each of their opponents. Through six contests, the Rebels have scored 33 goals which ranks first in the NCAA. Three times they have scored eight goals in a match, amassing eight against Alabama State, Northwestern State, and Southern Miss.

Two Rebels lead the team in scoring, junior CeCe Kizer and freshman Channing Foster each scoring seven goals this year. Following those two players are five players that have scored twice, and eight other women have scored once this season. Sophomore Alley Houghton ranks first on the team with five assists.

In 2017, Ole Miss has started two players in goal. Marnie Merritt has started five matches, racking up 451 minutes of playing time. The other goalkeeper is Claire Williams, who has seen time in two contests with a start in one. The keepers have combined to allow only one goal with 12 total saves. The effort in goal has led to five clean sheets.

Follow the Tigers
For more information on the Memphis women's soccer team, follow the Tigers on Facebook at /MemphisWSoccer and on Twitter and Instagram at @MemphisWSoccer.