{"id":425819,"date":"2026-09-04T06:18:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/425819\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T06:18:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:18:31","slug":"kelly-nets-first-goal-of-season-as-no-23-tigers-draw-houston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/425819\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelly Nets First Goal of Season as No. 23 Tigers Draw Houston"},"content":{"rendered":"

MEMPHIS, Tenn. \u2013 The Memphis women’s soccer team controlled much of the action Thursday night but settled for a 1-1 draw with Houston at the Billy J. Murphy Track & Soccer Complex.
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\nEllis Kelly<\/a> opened the scoring in the 10th minute with her first goal of the season and sixth of her career, while freshman Abby Forsgren<\/a> picked up her first collegiate assist. Houston answered eight minutes later through Adelhia Ghonda, and neither side was able to break the deadlock over the final 72 minutes.
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\nThe Tigers (2-2-1) held a commanding 21-5 advantage in shots, including a 12-1 margin in the second half, and put 10 attempts on target compared to three for the Cougars (2-1-3). Memphis also earned 11 corner kicks while limiting Houston to just one.
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\nHOW IT HAPPENED
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\n\tMemphis struck first in the 10th minute. Forsgren’s initial effort was saved by Houston goalkeeper Sierra McCluer before Kelly followed up with a header into the bottom-right corner. The goal was Kelly’s first of the season and sixth of her career, while Forsgren earned her first collegiate assist.
\n\tHouston responded in the 18th minute when a Memphis mistake allowed Ghonda to find the back of the net and level the match at 1-1.
\n\tThe Tigers pushed for the go-ahead goal throughout the second half, outshooting the Cougars 12-1 over the final 45 minutes.
\n\tMemphis put four second-half attempts on frame, but McCluer kept the Tigers off the board to preserve the draw.
\n\tThe Tigers held Houston without a shot on goal in the second half. <\/p>\n

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\nNOTABLES
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\n\tKelly’s 10th-minute goal was her first of the season and sixth of her career. She finished the night with three shots, including two on goal.
\n\tForsgren recorded her first collegiate assist while setting career highs with four shots and three shots on goal. The freshman has now recorded a point in back-to-back matches after scoring her first collegiate goal at Ole Miss.
\n\tTaliah Brooks<\/a> fired a career-high five shots to lead all players.
\n\tMemphis outshot Houston 21-5 and held a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal.
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\n\t\tThe Tigers’ 21 shots are their most in a match this season, while their 10 shots on goal are tied for their season high.
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\n\tThe Tigers were especially dominant after halftime, holding a 12-1 advantage in shots and a 7-0 edge in corner kicks.
\n\tAva Galani<\/a>, Ava Gaida<\/a>, Yuna Nagata<\/a>, Evelyn Mackay<\/a>, Ally Casey<\/a>, Abby Forsgren<\/a> and Finley Lavin<\/a> each played the full 90 minutes.
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\n\t\tMackay and Lavin have played all 450 minutes for the Tigers this season, while Galani has been in goal for all 450 minutes.
\n\t\tForsgren has played 418 of a possible 450 minutes through the first five matches of her collegiate career.
\n\t\tFreshman Neko Michell<\/a> made her collegiate debut, playing 26 minutes.
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\n\tGalani made two saves in goal as Memphis moved to 2-2-1 on the season. <\/p>\n

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\nSCORING SUMMARY
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\nFirst Half:
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\n10′ | Memphis 1 \u2013 0 Houston \u2013 Ellis Kelly<\/a> (1) (Assist: Abby Forsgren<\/a>)
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\n18′ | Memphis 1 \u2013 1 Houston \u2013 Adelhia Ghonda (2)
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\nSecond Half:
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\nFull-Time
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\nMemphis will be back in action on Sunday, September 6, when they travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 8 Ohio State. The match will be broadcast on B1G+.
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\nFor the Tigers’ most recent and up-to-date schedule, click HERE<\/a>.
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\nHOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com<\/a> and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.
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