Memphis Women’s Soccer defeated UTSA at home 1-0 to win their first conference game of the season. The Tigers now sit at 1-0-1 in conference play and 6-1-1 on the year.
First half:
Looking to start fast, Memphis earned their first scoring opportunity of the game: a corner kick by Ai Kitagawa in the second minute. It was cleared by UTSA. Memphis continued to pressure the Roadrunners’ defense, getting two quality shots in the fifth and seventh minutes.
UTSA matched this pace, earning a corner kick and subsequent shot on goal in the ninth minute. The shot was saved by Memphis keeper Kaylie Bierman. The momentum led to Memphis’ second corner kick of the game that was headed over the goal.
After a foul in the 12th minute by Memphis, UTSA got two consecutive corner kick opportunities in the 13th and 14th minutes, but the Tigers defense stood strong. A yellow card would be issued to UTSA midfielder Sophie Morrin shortly after, giving Memphis a chance to push downfield on offense.
The Tigers then got two corners of their own, one in the 18th minute that wouldn’t lead to much, and one in the 20th minute that led to a shot by Anna Hauer that just missed the top left corner of the goal.
Memphis began to control the contest in the latter portion of the half with shots in the 33rd, 37th, and 40th minutes, but they were all saved by UTSA’s keeper Jasmine Kessler. The offensive onslaught by the Tigers would end in vain with a score of 0-0 going into halftime.
Second half:
Memphis would carry their offensive momentum from the first half over to the second, earning two corner kicks in the 46th and 47th minutes, neither of which would result in a goal.
While the Tigers struggled to score, Memphis would never let UTSA get far at all on offense.
A goal kick by Memphis would set up a dangerously close shot in the 67th minute, but Kessler made the save for UTSA. Then, just moments later, she made a diving save to deny Ai Kitagawa a goal.
Memphis’ aggression almost backfired as UTSA’s Tyler Coker broke away and landed a clean shot on goal that was saved by Kaylie Bierman. Memphis would settle down and earn a 75th minute corner kick, their 10th of the game, but it would not convert into anything substantial.
Alex Mackay finally got the Tigers on the board in the 78th minute after a scramble from a throw in left Kate Howes open. Howes passed it to Mackay who gave Memphis the 1-0 lead.
Memphis played defense with better offense, keeping the game at their speed and defending the midfield line extremely well. They also milked away seconds here and there when they could.
The Roadrunners were unable to attempt a single shot for the rest of the game after Mackay’s goal, giving Memphis the win.
What’s next:
The Tigers look to start a win streak in conference play as they take on USF in Tampa on Sept. 29.
