Memphis women's soccer earns 6-seed, will host LSU in NCAA tournament opening round
Memphis women's soccer has earned a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament and will host LSU in first-round action, the NCAA announced Monday afternoon.
The Tigers (18-1) are ranked No. 8 in the country and have the nation's longest winning streak, but still ended up as a No. 6 seed and are in a bracket with No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 2 Arkansas and No. 1 Florida State.
"I'm not going to lie, it's a bit disappointing," coach Brooks Monaghan said. "I thought we deserved a little bit more respect having the record we have, where our RPI is, having the longest winning streak, all those things. But at the end of the day, I don't control that."
Added captain Grace Stordy: "A seed's a seed. We'll get what we can get."
More: Behind unassailable defense and resurgent scoring, Memphis women's soccer wins AAC West
The layout of the bracket means Memphis could be set for a tantalizing rematch with Arkansas in the Round of 16. Last season, the Tigers won two games in the NCAA tournament but lost on penalties to the Razorbacks.
Memphis vs. LSU will kick off at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Billy J. Murphy Track and Soccer Complex. The winner of the match will meet either Notre Dame or Valparaiso in the next round.
It has been a dream season for Memphis, which has the best defensive record in the country, allowing just .368 goals per game. It went undefeated during conference play and is riding a 15-game winning streak. Its only loss came in August at No. 24 Alabama.
Memphis won the AAC tournament on Sunday after already winning the regular-season title. The Tigers beat SMU 2-1 to earn the trophy after getting wins over UAB and Charlotte to reach the conference tournament title game.
Memphis beat LSU (8-7-4) in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2021, so there's some familiarity.
"A little bit of déjà vu for a couple of the older people on the team for sure, but I think it'll be a good matchup," Stordy said. "I don't know much about them, but I think we're ready to face anything."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis women's soccer earns 6-seed, will host LSU in NCAA tournament
