• Memphis 3-UTSA 3
  • Goals:
    • Ally Casey
    • Elise Perron
    • Alex Mackay

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!

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.