It’s Monday Afternoon. Calm, cool, and partly cloudy out the back window. Fall has been spectacular so far. Cool temps, clear skies, striking foliage. Everything but smores and a firepit. Maybe this weekend.
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The following is a compilation of the recent posts pertaining to the Hometown Lady Tigers Soccer Team. In the buildup to the NCAA Tournament, I decided to see how we got here.
The NCAA Selection Show will begin in about 30 minutes. I’m hopeful and expectant that the Tigers receive the deserved one seed. We will have the answer at the end of the post. I’d tell you now, but I don’t know it just yet.
October 8th
“You always have to think big picture”- Coach Brooks Monaghan
The ‘Round Game’ and the Hometown Tigers have crossed over by way of the Lady Tigers who are dominating this season.
Currently the Lady Tigers are unbeaten with 8 wins, 2 draws, and no losses against a relatively tough schedule and this has earned them an 8th National ranking. Wins over Ole Miss and Vanderbilt top their 8 wins with the draws coming against UAB and Tennessee.
Those in the Memphis area would be in for a treat if they made their way to the Athletic Complex tomorrow night as the Lady Tigers host North Texas. To all fans, B.Y.O.C. That’s right–Bring Your Own Cheese. Sliced, shredded, or cubed will be accepted. Please, no melted cheese as it will be difficult to distribute–appreciate the tongue in the cheesy cheek.
Bring Your Own Chair is of course what it means. Entry is free to all. Simply bring your own chair and set up anywhere along the track. These ladies are working hard and deserve to see and hear a passionate local crowd.
Those that knew me 15-17 years ago would know that I would certainly be there supporting them alongside my good buddy who was a former RB for the Men’s team. And bear in mind, these games wouldn’t be so close to campus as they are now. Back in the day, the games would be a half hour from campus on a field that had seen the likes of Tim Howard in goal at least once.
I’ve spent some hot afternoons and freezing cold nights watching soccer from those off-campus bleachers. Me and several close friends. In fact, there was an amazing core group of supporters back in the day. One of which being my better half who I was only friends with at the time. Love and Football–They cross over more times than you think.
Those teams featured Christie Kline at CB, Lizzy Hildebrandt at CM, and Ashley Barra at forward along with a bunch of other highly motivated young ladies who earned national recognition by seasons end. I don’t remember the team’s exact ranking, but those teams were as good as any college Lady soccer team I’ve ever seen.
Coached by the legend Coach Brooks Monaghan.
Incidentally, Coach Brooks is still the current Head Coach and notably he earned his 300th career win in 2024. For more than 25 years Coach Brooks as developed this Memphis Lady Tiger soccer program. If that isn’t serving ‘The Round Game,” I don’t know what is. Nothing but great for the entire sport of soccer in Memphis. Well done, Coach.
This current team has a real chance to make some noise and I for one will be rooting for them from a distance. GO Tigers, GO!
NEXT GAMES
North Texas @ Memphis 7:00 10/9 Thursday
Florida Atlantic @ Memphis 6:00 10/12 Sunday
Five games to go. Two on the road after these two at home and then finish at home against Temple at Noon October 26th.
Good luck Lady Hometown Tigers.
END October 8th
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October 13th
“Be there. Be proud. Wear Blue.”- Tommy West
10 Wins. 0 Losses. 2 Draws. The Lady Tigers are still unbeaten. Go Tigers, GO! It was a win that was hard fought and won in the end but a win, nonetheless. From over 2,000 miles away, I am beyond thrilled and supporting this team. I would be at every game if I was there.
Memphis as a city is a sneaky good soccer town full of intelligent soccer minds. I’m sure there are hundreds “B.Y.O.C.” to the games and lining the track. Remember the C is for chairs, not cheese. I’m not saying they won’t let you bring your mini Babybel with you to the game, but if you want a place to sit, Bring Your Own Chair. I can’t get away from my own cheesy joke. Still tickles me.
- Memphis 2, Florida Atlantic 1
It was 0-0 at the half, but straight out of the break the hometown team scored by way of Center-Mid Ai Kitagawa.
The Owls responded in the 69th minute to make it 1-1, before the Tigers scored late to seal the win. Ai Kitagawa once again netted the goal. 2-1 Tigers.
A game I certainly wish I could’ve seen. Hopefully, you were there. I know there are at least 1 or 2 Hometown readers. One was quite the physical player in their day. Hopefully, the crowds are swelling with each win.
Way to go Lady Tigers and Coach Monaghan!
- A pure 4 Iron strike from Memphis Fire Station 30, on an Athletic Field wedged between the softball and baseball field and surrounded by a running track is where the Memphis Tigers play their Home Soccer games.
Lady Tigers Remaining Schedule:
- Memphis @ East Carolina at Noon SUN 10/19
- Memphis @ UTSA at 6PM THUR 10/23
- Temple @ Memphis at Noon SUN 10/26
Survive these next two gritty road games and then smash Temple to end the season on Senior Day hopefully in front of a packed crowd. Be there, be proud, and wear blue.
While it is important to appreciate each step and win along the way, there isn’t time to reflect too long as there is still plenty to accomplish this season. How high can this team rise? Let’s win it all!
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October 28th
The Hometown Tigers: Lady Tigers Soccer
- Temple @ Memphis 6
Goals Scorers:
- Alex Mackay
- Flavie Doube
- Ashley Henderson (2)
- Harding Academy (Memphis) graduate
- Team Captain
- Mihiro Furuya
- Natalie Leibel
4th in the Nation!
What a tremendous regular season. GO Tigers, GO!
The midday Monday makeup game wraps the regular season for the unbeaten Lady Tigers who will await their opponent in the AAC Tournament. The tournament itself begins next Monday, and I think the Lady Tigers will enjoy a first round bye.
I love the Hometown Tigers!
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November 4th
A quick look at the Round Game courtesy of the Hometown Lady Tigers.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN”S SOCCER QUARTERFINALS
- Memphis 1- East Carolina 0
Team Captain and American Conference Offensive Player of the Year Ashley Henderson won the game with a headed goal in the 86th minute. (Courtesy of theamerican.org)
Memphis will play UTSA Thursday Night at 7 Eastern on Espn+ for a chance to advance to final on Sunday. The Lady Tigers continue to be a relentless group. True inspirations.
Go Tigers, GO!
November 7th
- Memphis 3-UTSA 3
- Goals:
- Ally Casey
- Elise Perron
- Alex Mackay
- Goals:
The unbeaten Lady Tigers played in the American Athletic Conference soccer semifinals last night against Texas San Antonio. A game that took place in Lakewood Ranch, Florida that would see the winner through to the finals on Sunday.
The Tigers bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit to bring the game level by Half, but it was the last ten minutes of the game where the drama began to unfold.
The Hometown squad scored in the 85th minute to increase the lead over the Roadrunners to 3-1 and seemed to be in complete control, but UTSA was not done with the fight.
Unfortunately, the two-goal cushion only lasted about a minute as the Roadrunners made it 3-2 in the 86th and this lead would only last about two more minutes.
In the 88th, UTSA tied the game in miraculous fashion, and the Tigers could not find the back of the net before the end of regulation.
Skipping ahead through the scoreless overtime period, the game went to penalty kicks where the Lady Tigers were defeated (3-1). That’s right–If you hadn’t heard the breaking news yet, the #3 team in all the land was upset last night in the conference semi-finals. Their first defeat of the season.
It was necessary to lose before the National Tournament. Afterall, the National Tournament is where you can become Memphis Legends. Pick up yourself from the loss, mend the emotional scrapes and bruises, and prepare to perform your best in next week’s 1st round game. This was only one loss.
With wins over Mississippi and Vanderbilt and an impressive draw with Tennessee, this Tiger team carries a nice resume into the NCAA Tournament and should still be granted a number one seed. At least, from the stool at my kitchen bar top on this cloudy, cool Friday morning.
There is so much more to accomplish. Last night’s loss does not matter in terms of the Memphis Lady Tiger Soccer Team to win the National Championship. The fires of defeat should merely make the team stronger. The team that has won games by five but also come back to win by one late. The easy breezy wins are nice, but it’s in the fire that true character is formed. It takes both resilience and strength to win a championship, and those are not forged without suffering.
Pick yourselves up Hometown squad; there are plenty that believe in you.
NEXT
The NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced some time shortly after the conference championships have concluded on Sunday. Whoever the Tigers play, I expect to see them come through victorious. This is a real team. Memphis Lady Soccer is far from satisfied with their season so far.
Go Tigers, GO!
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TODAY: November 10th
The Lady Tigers earned a Seventh seed and will play Illinois this weekend. I was way off with my One Seed projection. Seven seems incredibly low considering the team’s resume.
The winner of Memphis/ Illinois will face the winner of 2 seed TCU and Grambling St.
-One Seeds are Notre Dame, Stanford, Virginia, and Vanderbilt who the Tigers beat.
-Defending champ North Carolina will play 3 seed Tennessee. The Tigers drew 0-0 with the Lady Vols.
-FSU who have won the Championship 3 of the last seven seasons earned a three seed and will play Samford.
-BYU earned the 5 seed and will play Utah St.
NEXT GAME: 11/15 at 7PM U of M Athletic Complex. B.Y.OC.
- Memphis vs Illinois
Be there, be proud, wear blue!
Go Tigers, GO!
Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’
Whit W.