Tigers Outshoot Bulls 25-2, Settle for 1-1 Draw

Thursday, September 24

Tampa, Fla.

5 p.m.

University of Memphis

4-3-2, 1-0-1

South Florida

2-4-3, 0-0-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Memphis	1	0	1
South Fla.	0	1	1

Match Notes

Sep 24, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. – The Memphis women's soccer team shared a point with South Florida Thursday night, playing the Bulls to a 1-1 draw at Corbett Soccer Stadium despite outshooting the hosts 25-2.

Freshman Abby Forsgren opened the scoring for the second consecutive match, finding the back of the net in the 27th minute off assists from Zerina Markovic and Ai Kitagawa. South Florida responded shortly after halftime, with McKenna Battilla scoring in the 52nd minute to level the match.

The Tigers (4-3-2, 1-0-1 American) controlled the attacking chances throughout the night, holding a 25-2 advantage in shots and putting 12 attempts on target. Memphis also earned 12 corner kicks compared to just one for South Florida.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis broke through in the 27th minute when Kitagawa played a ball into the box to Markovic, who used a clever backheel to find Forsgren. The freshman slotted her shot past the goalkeeper to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Ellis Kelly nearly doubled the Memphis advantage in the 35th minute, but her effort struck the underside of the crossbar and stayed out.
The Tigers held South Florida without a shot in the opening 45 minutes and took their one-goal advantage into halftime.
The Bulls equalized in the 52nd minute when Battilla launched a shot into the top corner off assists from Yui Suetsugu and Sophia Cabral.
Memphis continued to control the attacking chances in the second half, outshooting South Florida 13-2 and putting seven shots on goal, but could not find a winner.

NOTABLES

Memphis' 25 shots were the second-most in a match this season, trailing only the 32 attempts against Kansas City.
The draw was the Tigers' second of the season after playing Houston to a 1-1 draw three weeks ago.
- In their two 1-1 draws this season, the Tigers have outshot their opponents by a combined 46-7.
Forsgren continued her strong run of form, playing all 90 minutes while recording five shots, including three on goal, and scoring her third goal of the season.
- The freshman has scored in back-to-back matches and totaled five points over her last three contests.
- Forsgren has played 775 of 810 possible minutes this season and ranks second on the team in goals (3), points (8) and shots (28).
Kelly played a career-high 83 minutes and recorded three shots, including one on goal.
- Kelly nearly doubled the Memphis lead in the 35th minute when her effort struck the underside of the crossbar.
Ava Gaida played the full 90 minutes in the Memphis backline and recorded her first two shots of the season, putting both on target.
Mihiro Furuya played every minute for the second straight match and just the second time in her career.
- Furuya finished with a season-high three shots, including two on goal.
Kitagawa played 66 minutes and picked up an assist on Forsgren's opening goal.
- The assist was her third of the season and 14th of her career.
Markovic provided a spark off the bench, playing 44 minutes and recording two shots, including one on goal.
- Her backheel assist on Forsgren's goal marked the first point of her collegiate career.
Ava Galani, Gaida, Yuna Nagata, Furuya, Evelyn Mackay, Ally Casey, Forsgren and Maira Boosman each played the full 90 minutes.
- Memphis used just three substitutions (Marika Martineau, Markovic and Neko Michell) for the second straight match.
Memphis moved to 4-3-2 overall and 1-0-1 in American Conference play with the draw.
The Tigers extended their American Conference unbeaten streak to 31 consecutive matches.
- Memphis' last conference loss came on Oct. 27, 2022, at SMU.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Half:

27' | Memphis 1 – 0 South Florida – Abby Forsgren (3) (Assist: Zerina Markovic, Ai Kitagawa)

Second Half:

52' | Memphis 1 – 1 South Florida – McKenna Battilla (2) (Assist: Yui Suetsugu, Sophia Cabral)

Full-Time

UP NEXT

Memphis will remain in Florida to close out its two-match road swing Sunday against Florida Atlantic. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. on ESPN+.

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

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.