FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 8-ranked, sixth-seeded University of Memphis women's soccer team's season comes to a close after a 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh in the 3rd round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Pitt is extremely athletic and a very well-coached team,” head coach Brooks Monaghan said. “I thought we had a really good game plan going in and we played them well in the first half. I’m just proud of what this team has accomplished this season and want them to focus on that.”
Memphis tested the Panther defense from the opening whistle.
Mya Jones, Anna Hauer and Momo Nakao all registered shots in the first 20 minutes.
Jones nearly opened the scoring two minutes before the half but her shot from the left side of the box narrowly sailed by the right goalpost.
Goalkeeper Kaylie Biermann came up with five saves and kept the game scoreless at the half.
Pitt drew first blood in the 52' with a goal from Keera Melenhorst.
Memphis nearly leveled the score in the 61' but Ellie Breech brilliantly saved a point-blank shot from Hauer.
Memphis continued their attacking onslaught but the Panthers added two more goals in the 76' and 88' to put the match away.
Memphis finishes the season with a record of 20-2, its first 20-win season since 2017.
The Tigers claimed their third consecutive American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and made it to back-to-back trips to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Sunday's defeat snapped an impressive 17-game winning streak for the Tigers that dated all the way back to Aug. 27.
