Ohio State Defeats Memphis 3–1 in Dominant Performance
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Memphis walked into Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Sunday night with a ranking, confidence, and a point to prove. Ohio State sent them home with a lesson in ruthlessness.
The eighth-ranked Buckeyes beat No. 23 Memphis 3–1, striking twice before halftime and adding a third in the second half to stay unbeaten at 4-0-1. The Tigers, now 2-3-1, found a late response through Mihiro Furuya but never fully recovered from the early blows.
Ohio State finished with 19 shots, seven on target. Memphis actually matched that number on frame, putting seven of its 13 attempts on goal, but the Buckeyes controlled the scoreboard when it mattered.
Buckeyes Strike Early, Then Tighten Their Grip
The warning signs came quickly.
In the 15th minute, Ohio State made its first real spell of pressure count. A corner kick dropped invitingly in the box, and Elle Britt pounced, turning it into the opening goal and a 1–0 Buckeye lead.
Memphis tried to settle, to play their way back into the game. They carved out looks, tested goalkeeper Peighton Northrup, and forced the Buckeyes to defend. But the hosts never really loosened their grip.
Just before the break, the hill got steeper.
In the 41st minute, Callie Tumilty whipped a cross into the area. Amanda Schlueter met it and calmly slotted home for 2–0, a goal that changed the tone of the night. Instead of going into halftime within touching distance, Memphis headed to the locker room chasing a ranked opponent on the road and trailing by two.
Britt, Schlueter Combine Again
Any hope of a quick second-half surge from Memphis ran into the same duo that had tormented them all evening.
In the 69th minute, Schlueter turned provider. She found Britt in space, and the forward did the rest, tucking away her second goal of the match to push Ohio State’s advantage to 3–0.
That should have ended it. Memphis refused to fold.
The Tigers pushed higher, committed numbers forward, and finally got their reward 10 minutes later.
Furuya Breakthrough Offers Late Spark
In the 79th minute, Memphis carved open the Buckeye back line at last. Ally Casey delivered a cross into the box, and Furuya met it, forcing the ball over the line to cut the deficit to 3–1.
For Furuya, it was a milestone moment: her first goal of the season and the third of her career. She made her 31 minutes count, finishing with two shots and giving the Tigers a late surge of belief.
Casey’s assist was her first of the year and the second of her collegiate career.
The goal ignited Memphis. The Tigers threw everything they had into the final stretch, pressing, chasing, and firing from distance. But Ohio State held firm. Northrup finished with six saves, turning away chance after chance to close out the win.
Workload, Firsts, and Building Blocks
The box score told its own story of effort and endurance.
Abby Forsgren led Memphis with three shots, all on target. The freshman has now piled up nine shots and seven shots on goal across her last three matches, a consistent threat even on a difficult night.
Seven Tigers went the distance: Ava Galani, Ava Gaida, Yuna Nagata, Evelyn Mackay, Casey, Natalie Dvorakova, and Maira Boosman each logged the full 90 minutes. For Dvorakova and Boosman, it marked the first time in their collegiate careers they’ve played every second.
There were new beginnings everywhere. Neko Michell, Dvorakova, and Grayson Williams all earned their first collegiate starts. Freshman Miyu Morota posted a career-high 33 minutes off the bench, adding more depth to a rotation that continues to evolve.
In goal, Galani recorded four saves while facing 19 shots from a relentless Ohio State attack.
Memphis ultimately finished with 13 shots, seven on target, matching the Buckeyes’ accuracy but not their finishing edge.
What Comes Next
The schedule offers no time to dwell.
Memphis returns home on Sunday, September 13, to host Kansas City at the Track and Soccer Complex, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. Another test, another chance to turn hard lessons from Columbus into a sharper, more ruthless version of the Tigers.
