Tigers Eye Fourth Straight Conference Title, Host East Carolina

Friday, October 30

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

East Carolina

Oct 29, 2026 | Women's Soccer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis women's soccer team returns home for its regular-season home finale against East Carolina on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. CT. With a victory, the Tigers would clinch their fourth consecutive American Conference regular-season championship.

Memphis (6-0-2 American) enters the final week of the regular season atop the American Conference standings with 20 points after collecting four points last week with a 4-0 home victory over UTSA and a 1-1 road draw against North Texas. The Tigers remain the conference's last unbeaten team, holding a four-point advantage over Charlotte (16 points) and a five-point lead over UAB (15 points), with two matches remaining for each team.

The Tigers can secure the regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the American Conference Tournament with a victory over East Carolina or losses by both Charlotte and UAB.

Memphis continued its strong run of form last Thursday with a commanding 4-0 victory over UTSA. Junior defender Ally Casey opened the scoring in the seventh minute before sophomore Zerina Markovic struck twice in a three-minute span late in the first half. The Tigers added a fourth goal to complete the shutout late in the second half when Marika Martineau scored her first career goal.

On Sunday, Memphis battled North Texas to a 1-1 draw in Denton. Junior Ellis Kelly broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, heading home a cross from Taliah Brooks for her fourth goal of the season and ninth of her career. The Mean Green answered just one minute later, and despite opportunities for both sides in the closing stages, the teams settled for a point apiece.

SCOUTING REPORT

East Carolina enters Friday's matchup with a 3-4-9 overall record and a 2-2-4 mark in American Conference play. The Pirates sit eighth in the conference standings and rank No. 188 in the NCAA RPI. ECU is coming off a 2-2 home draw against North Texas last week.

The Pirates' most notable result of the season came in a scoreless road draw against No. 62 UNC Wilmington. East Carolina also settled for a 2-2 draw against No. 253 VCU.

Memphis holds a commanding 21-4-4 advantage in the all-time series. The Tigers and Pirates met twice last season, with Memphis earning a 5-0 road victory in Greenville during the regular season before securing a 1-0 win in the opening round of the American Conference Tournament. The Tigers broke through in the 87th minute of the tournament matchup to advance.

East Carolina is led by second-year head coach Emily Buccilla, who owns a 9-12-13 record with the Pirates.

The Pirates' attack is led by fifth-year midfielder Isabella Gutierrez, who ranks sixth in the American Conference with five assists. Gutierrez also leads ECU with four goals and 13 points this season. Senior goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich has anchored the Pirates' defense, ranking fourth in the conference with five shutouts.

As a team, East Carolina ranks 27th nationally in saves per game (5.94) and 34th in yellow cards (20).

TIGER TIDBITS

Since 2023, Memphis owns a 59-8-10 overall record and an .831 winning percentage. Only No. 22 Florida State (.846) has posted a higher winning percentage over that span.
The Tigers have been equally dominant in conference play, posting a 30-0-7 record and a .905 winning percentage against conference opponents since 2023. Only Milwaukee (.925) and Utah Valley (.917) have recorded higher conference winning percentages during that stretch.
Memphis has not lost a regular-season conference match since Oct. 27, 2022, when the Tigers fell on the road at SMU.
Through 15 matches, Memphis has outshot its opponents 273-105, including a 125-52 advantage in shots on goal. The Tigers have also held a 95-37 edge in corner kicks.
Head coach Brooks Monaghan has called upon several freshmen and transfers to make significant contributions this season:
- Freshman Miyu Morota has appeared in nine matches, totaling 150 minutes.
- Freshman Ella Etienne has played 107 minutes across seven appearances, recording her first collegiate assist against Tulsa.
- Freshman Marika Martineau has appeared in 12 matches, logging 267 minutes.
- Freshman Neko Michell has totaled 176 minutes across eight matches, earning her first collegiate start at No. 8 Ohio State.
- Transfer Zerina Markovic has appeared in all 15 matches, playing 565 minutes while recording three goals and one assist.
- Freshman Abby Forsgren has made an immediate impact, starting every match for the Tigers and playing 1,306 of 1,350 possible minutes. She has contributed four goals and six assists while recording 40 shots, including 19 on goal.
- Transfer Natalie Dvorakova has played 307 minutes across 11 matches, making two starts and scoring her first collegiate goal.
- Freshman Maira Boosman has played a significant role in the Tigers' back line, starting 13 of 15 matches and totaling 1,095 minutes.
Several returning Tigers have also taken on expanded roles and increased their production this season:
- Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Galani has taken over the starting role in net, playing 1,340 of 1,350 possible minutes while recording six shutouts.
- Sophomore Ava Gaida has made 12 starts this season after entering the campaign without a collegiate start. She has now appeared in 26 career matches.
- Redshirt freshman Grayson Williams made her collegiate debut this season and earned her first career start at No. 8 Ohio State. Williams later scored her first two collegiate goals in a span of just 16 minutes off the bench at Florida Atlantic.

For the Tigers' most recent and up-to-date schedule, click HERE.

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