University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
East Carolina
Henderson Sends No. 3 Tigers to Conference Semifinals
Nov 03, 2025 | Women's Soccer
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – No. 3 Memphis women's soccer knocked on the door for 86 minutes on Monday evening, and Ashley Henderson kicked it down with three-and-a-half minutes to play as the Tigers defeated East Carolina, 1-0, in the American Conference quarterfinals at Premier Sports Campus.
The top-seeded Tigers (16-0-2, 9-0-1 American) avoided the upset bug that plagued the conference's opening round, the only higher seed to advance to Thursday's semifinals. They will take on UTSA on November 6 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
"It was a tough game. We had some near chances throughout the game, and their goalkeeper played phenomenal, but that's soccer. That's what tournament soccer is about; you have to leave it all out there," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "The team just didn't get rattled and scored off a great service and a great header."
Memphis out-shot the Pirates (6-8-4, 4-4-2 American), 20-6, but goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich kept the Tigers at bay for most of the game, with some help from the frame of the goal and an extraordinary goal-line clearance from Juliana Viera. East Carolina created two dangerous chances in the second half, but Abby Kudla was proactive in collecting the pass on the first, and Finley Lavin recovered swiftly to force a timid effort on the second, just moments before the opening goal.
It was the Tigers' eighth and final corner kick of the game that would find the back of the net, as Henderson wiggled free from her marker and rose the highest to send a header into the bottom left corner of the goal. Ai Kitagawa was credited with her fourth assist of the year for the delivery; Henderson's goal was her 10th.
It was the third game of the season where the Tigers broke the deadlock with five minutes or less remaining. They won in Charlotte, 1-0, thanks to an 85th-minute winner from Taliah Brooks, and Kitagawa found the winner in the 89th minute against Florida Atlantic
Thursday's game will follow South Florida-Rice and be broadcast on ESPN+.
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.
