LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – No. 1 seed Memphis won its third consecutive American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship with a 2-1 win over No. 3 seed SMU Sunday afternoon, November 5, at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
 
The Tigers (18-1-0), ranked No. 8 in the country, earn The American’s automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. The selection show for the tournament will take place Monday, November 6 at 4 p.m. Eastern on NCAA.com. Memphis became the first team to win three consecutive American women’s soccer titles. The Tigers are also the first American squad to win four women’s soccer championship crowns (2018, 2021-23).  
 
Kaylie Bierman pushed a diving save off of Nyah Rose in the seventh minute onto the post to keep the match tied. Ashley Henderson opened the scoring in the final in the 40^th minute, with Momo Nakao earning the assist.
 
Delaney Tellex scored her first goal of the season in the 72^nd minute when her cross bounced off an SMU defender and went into the net.
 
SMU (11-6-1) pulled one back in the 79^th minute when Truth Byars scored her first goal of the season.
 
Bierman ended up with five saves for the Tigers, including one off of a shot from Byars in the 89^th minute.
 
Mya Jones of Memphis was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player, while her Tiger teammate, Sarah Hagg, was selected as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
 
2023 American Women's Soccer Championship
Premier Sports Campus (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
 
Championship Schedule
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
QF1 - No. 1 Seed Memphis 2, No. 8 Seed UAB 1
QF2 - No. 5 Seed Charlotte 5, No. 4 Seed East Carolina 0
QF3 - No. 3 Seed SMU 2, No. 6 Seed Tulsa 1
QF4 - No. 7 Seed Florida Atlantic 1, No. 2 Seed South Florida 0
 
Thursday, November 2, 2023
SF1 – No. 1 Memphis 2, No. 5 Charlotte 0
SF2 – No. 3 SMU 3, No. 7 Florida Atlantic 0
 
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Championship Final – No. 1 Memphis 2, No. 3 SMU 1
 
Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Mya Jones, F/M, Memphis
 
Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Sarah Hagg, D, Memphis
 
All-Championship Team
Macey Bader, F, Charlotte
Molly Setsma, M, Florida Atlantic
Kaylie Bierman, GK, Memphis
Sarah Hagg, D, Memphis
Mya Jones, F/M, Memphis
Momo Nakao, M, Memphis
Delaney Tellex, F/M, Memphis
Peyton Annen, D, SMU
Wayny Balata, M, SMU
Nyah Rose, F, SMU
Eliana Salama, M, SMU