University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Illinois
Tigers Host Illinois to Open NCAA Tournament
Nov 14, 2025 | Women's Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis women's soccer will host Illinois this Saturday, November 15, at 7:00 p.m. at the Track and Soccer Stadium at Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased HERE.
Due to the construction of the new Liza Wellford Fletcher Soccer & Track Stadium, temporary seating will be available in the form of bleachers placed on the track. Fans are also encouraged to bring their own seating for all home matches this season.
The Tigers (16-0-3, 9-0-1 American) enter the dance as the only undefeated team in the nation, just the seventh team to do so since 2014. They won the American Conference regular season for the third consecutive season but fell in the tournament semifinals via penalty shootout to eventual champion UTSA.
Seeded seventh in the 64-team field, they will take on Illinois, who also received an at-large bid. The winner will face the winner of TCU-Grambling State on Thursday, November 20.
The two teams have faced just once before, in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament in Columbia, Missouri. The Fighting Illini won in double overtime, 1-0, thanks to a goal in the 113th minute.
Illinois (13-5-2, 5-4-2 Big Ten) were one of the last unbeaten teams, going a perfect 7-0 in non-conference play. These teams shared one opponent in 2025; Memphis beat Missouri, 2-1, at home, and the Illini won in Columbia, 2-0.
Goalkeeper Izzy Lee anchored the Illinois defense with a .861 save percentage, earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team. Sarah Foley and Cayla Jackson each scored seven goals and added three assists to earn spots on the All-Conference Second and Third Team, respectively.
Tiger Tidbits
- With 29 combined wins between the teams this season, Saturday's match features the second-most wins of any of the 32 first round contests (Dayton-Xavier, 30).
- The Tigers are 2-0 hosting NCAA Tournament games at South Campus, defeating LSU in 2021 and 2023. They hosted two games at Mike Rose Soccer Complex in 2011, going 1-1.
- Ashley Henderson is third in the nation in shots per game (5.11).
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
