Memphis Lady Tigers
Overall Rank: #30
Conference Rank: #2 American
Memphis Team Page
Until last year, Memphis had won five straight Conference USA championships. The program history is not long, but it has been very successful. The 2012 campaign was disappointing as the Lady Tigers went 10-8-1 overall and 6-4-1 in conference play. But it will be easy to put all that behind them as Coach Brooks Monaghan will lead Memphis into the American Athletic Conference. The competition will be tougher, yet this group has all the tools to start a new conference winning streak.
2012 Record: 10-8-1, 6-4-1
2012 Postseason: None
Coach: Brooks Monaghan
Strengths:
Memphis had one of the most potent offenses in all of college soccer in 2012 and it could be even better in 2013. Christabel Oduro is a speedy striker who has been a starter for the better part of three years. As a sophomore she tallied 16 goals and seven assists. Last year it was 13 goals and eight assists. For her senior season expect more of the same from Oduro. Taylor Isenhower and Tine Schryvers were key parts of the offense, but Oduro will get plenty of help from Kylie Davis and Kaitlyn Atkins. Davis, a teammate of Oduro on Canada’s U-20 national team, netted five goals and tallied six assists as a sophomore. Atkins has been an efficient player for the last two years and had a breakout year as a sophomore with four goals and six assists.
Weaknesses:
The Tigers do lose a few key players on defense. Bailey Pembroke and Averi Hallman were regular starters in the back and provided some toughness to the unit. The defense ranked 233rd in the nation in goals allowed so there is plenty of room for improvement. But youth and inexperience will be a big concern in the back. Sophomores like Lucy Cunningham and Diamond Simpson will need to grow up quickly. Meanwhile, juniors Carly Cassady and Kelley Gravlin will take on more of a leadership role in the back. McKenzie Bricker highlights a talented group of newcomers and will add depth along the back. Keeper Christa Strickland will provide stability while the defense adjusts to their new roles. Strickland wasted little time stepping into a starting role during her freshman campaign. Strickland could find Maryse Bard-Martel pushing for playing time right away. The incoming freshman has international experience playing with Canada and is a superb talent.
Final Projection:
Memphis will have no problem scoring goals. Oduro will have another huge season and garner national attention. Coach Monaghan even has some more experienced newcomers ready to fill a few holes. Honeye Heydari, a transfer from Mississippi State, and junior college transfers Ginesha Pickersgill and Nugene Nugent will do just that. This is a very young team with just one senior on the roster, but that senior is Oduro so this is the year for her to lead the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Christabel Oduro, Senior, F, 13
Assists: Christabel Oduro, Senior, F, 8
Shots: Christabel Oduro, Senior, F, 42
Saves: Christa Strickland, Sophomore, GK, 72
Madness 2014 NWSL Draft Rankings:
#12 Christabel Oduro
Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#133 McKenzie Bricker
See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
