American Athletic Conference women's soccer action kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 16 with four matches, highlighted by South Florida's come-from-behind victory over East Carolina in Tampa. 

Thursday, September 16
Cincinnati 1, Tulsa 0 - Box Score
South Florida 3, East Carolina 2 (OT) - Box Score
Memphis 4, Temple 0 - Box Score
Houston 1, UCF 0 - Box Score
SMU 1, San Francisco 0 - Box Score

Cincinnati 1, Tulsa 0 - Box Score
CINCINNATI -- The University of Cincinnati soccer team's strong defense made the difference on Thursday night in a 1-0 over Tulsa in Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats improved to 5-3-1 on the season and 4-1-1 at home. The Golden Hurricane fell to 4-4-1 (0-1-0 American).
 
The start of the game saw both sides trying to find ways to break down two strong defenses. Both keepers made important saves before Vanessa DiNardo broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Paige Miller controlled a cross right the left wing that fell right into DiNardo's path who slotted it home. The Bearcats would hold on to the 1-0 going into halftime.
 
The second half continued in a very similar fashion with neither sides giving in. Taylor Nuncio barely missing a header from a Karli Royer free kick and Anna Rexford making a few good saves kept the game at 1-0. Kendall Battle's overhead attempt provided some reaction from the fans in the 69th minute. The Bearcats had their backs against the wall in the final 10 minutes with Tulsa going all-out on the attack but were able to hold on.
 
The Bearcats had 18 shots, equally splitting nine between each half. The Bearcats also had a 6-1 corner kick advantage. DiNardo and Ashley Barron each had four shots in the match. Miller picked up her second assist on the season.

South Florida 3, East Carolina 2 (OT) - Box Score
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 16, 2021 – The University of South Florida women's soccer team came back from two different one goal deficits in the final 10 minutes and scored the golden-goal in overtime to earn a 3-2 victory in the conference opener against East Carolina.
 
Three different goal-scorers helped USF on its path to victory, while the Bulls' offense recorded a total of eight points in the game. Between both teams, four goals were scored in the last 13:41 of game time.
 
East Carolina struck early, with Haley McWhirter scoring on a chip shot from 35 yards out. The Pirates would take that 1-0 lead into the locker room and nearly held it to the end of the game.
 
Lucy Roberts had other ideas. After a rebound on a shot attempt was headed away by an ECU defender, Roberts found the top corner of the far post to put USF back in the game.
 
The Pirates quickly pushed back. Tori Riggs scored on another goal from distance to give East Carolina back the lead with just over three minutes to go.
 
The Bulls would not back down, however. Sydny Nasello received a pass and fought through two Pirate defenders and sunk her down shot from distance to tie the game with less than two minutes on the clock.
 
After posting 23 shots in the second half and heading to overtime tied at 2-2, South Florida didn't let off the gas. Less than four minutes into the extra period, Chyanne Dennis sent a ball into the penalty box, which was redirected into the front of the net by Emilee Laijmiri. Chloe Zamiela found the ball and headed it past the ECU keeper for the sudden-death victory.

Memphis 4, Temple 0 - Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis bounced right back after its first loss of the season; the Tigers opened up American Athletic Conference play tonight and came away with a 4-0 win over the Owls of Temple University.
 
Following tonight's win, Memphis moves to 7-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play, while Temple fell to 1-3-3 (0-1-0 American).
 
Kimberley Smit got the Tigers on the board late in the first half when she found the back of the net off a free kick in the 31' of play.

Jocelyn Alonzo netted her third goal of the season in the 52' when Mya Jones sent a cross into the box and found the foot of Alonzo to make it a 2-0 game.

Haylee Spray got in on the scoring fun in the 64' when she scored off a bobbled ball deep in the box and extended Memphis' lead to 3-0.

The Tiger's final goal of the night came as a solo shot from Grace Stordy in the 75' of play.

Houston 1, UCF 0 - Box Score
Recap to follow.

SMU 1, San Francisco 0 - Box Score
Recap to follow.