Memphis Women’s Soccer traveled to Boca Raton on Sunday to take on the FAU Owls, winning the game 1-0. This win clinches their position in the AAC tournament, the Tigers have never missed this event since the American was created in 2013. Memphis still has a lot to play for, however. They are tied with South Florida at 17 points for first place, with gives them homefield for the entire event.
Both teams looked to take an early advantage in the rain, but FAU was first to threaten a score with a 5th minute corner kick. It fell out of the reach of any Owls and Memphis would earn a response five minutes later when Anne-Valerie Seto kicked the ball into the top of the goal, but FAU keeper Lexi Gonzales forced a failed corner kick to end the Memphis possession.
As the rain continued to pour and FAU drumline played in support for the home team, Ashley Henderson would find Gonzales playing very high in the box and snuck a ball in the net in the 17th to give Memphis an early lead.
The Owls could not get much of anything going on offense, as Memphis continued to dominate time of possession and shot totals, just like many other games this season. As a result, Memphis slowly got an advantage in field positioning.
The Tigers would push this advantage hard, getting great looks from Seto in the 31st and Ai Kitagawa in the 35th. The half would end after a pair of quick shot attempts by Memphis in the 41st, but neither of them were successful.
Coming out of the break, Memphis did not let up at all. They continued their plan of shot density with three attempts in the first seven minutes of the second half.
FAU were finally showing signs of life on offense, earning a 56th minute corner kick which converted into their first shot attempts of the game, the second of which was headed by FAU’s Sutton Markee, forcing a save from Memphis keeper Kaylie Bierman.
As the rain made its presence known yet again, Kitagawa very quickly responded with her own shot attempt for the Tigers that was a little high and flew out of bounds. Anna Hauer followed this up two minutes later with an attempt of her own that was easily saved by Gonzales.
Memphis would continue to dominate in the same fashion as the first half: offensive pressure. While FAU were able to drive down the pitch a few times, the Tigers would maintain a healthy advantage in shots and eventually time as well.
The Owls would attempt to tie the game with a couple of shots late, but these had no chance as Memphis cruises to the victory.
What’s next: Memphis has a critical game at home against Rice, who is 3rd in the AAC standings, one point behind Memphis and USF, on October 24th. This game could very well determine who hosts the conference tournament in November.
