Memphis Women Stunned Late by Alabama

Coming into Saturday night’s game, the women’s soccer team at the University of Memphis had not lost a game at the Billy Murphy Track & Soccer Complex since October 17, 2021. That was a stretch of 41 games that included big time regular season matchups, games in the conference tournament, and three NCAA Tournament games. Unfortunately, the streak came to an end against Alabama as the Tigers fell 2-1.

“Didn’t think we played that well” said Coach Brooks Monaghan after the game. “I thought the girls responded at halftime when we changed things up a little bit. They responded in a positive way. And then we lose the game that way. It’s tough. It’s tough. We haven’t lost here in a long time.”

The first half started with the Tigers turning in an uncharacteristically toothless performance and Alabama duly took the lead on a penalty. Everything seemed to be just a touch off from the passes not connecting to set piece delivery being too long to Alabama players winning what seemed like every 50/50 ball. The second half was a different story as the Tigers came out with new energy and purpose and equalized after less than three minutes. After getting two goals in the first game, it was Ai Kitagawa’s turn to play provider with a nice ball into the six-yard box that Taliah Brooks turned home to level the game. The remaining 41 minutes was very back and forth with each team getting one or two decent chances. But in the dying seconds of the game Memphis conceded a free kick on the edge of their own penalty area. The ball in wasn’t cleared and with seven seconds remaining in the game, Alabama took the lead to secure a huge upset win.

Coach Monaghan was able to elaborate on how his players managed to respond well to start the second half.

“We changed the system. We just simplified things. I mean, we were very confident in the gameplan but unfortunately on the goal they scored that was the handball, we lost our mark. I’ll put it that way. And that’s what created the chance. Alabama, they were having the ball a little too much. That’s the reason that we did change the system, and I thought that it was the right decision. But at the end of the day, we just came up a little short.”

The lack of crispness and sharpness in the first half is not something that escaped Monaghan’s notice either.

“It’s only going to get harder.” he said. “That’s the message. I know these girls. Everybody’s got to give 110%. There’s a few that didn’t for whatever reason and, you know, with this schedule if you’re not able to give 110% then in due time I’m going to have to sit you next to me. That’s what expected here. Around here you give everything and there’s no excuses. You just have to leave it all on the field.”

It will certainly only be getting harder from here as the Tigers next three games are all on the road against power conference opponents. Memphis returns home on September 3rd against Houston.