Schedule

MOBILE, Ala. – Rematches with two nationally-ranked non-conference opponents and a visit by Alabama highlight the 2017 University of South Alabama soccer schedule released Tuesday.

The Jaguars will have 10 home games, including one preseason matchup.

"The schedule is exciting," USA head coach Richard Moodie said. "The Sun Belt Conference schedule itself is great, with some teams in the top 100 in the RPI, but the teams we play in the non-conference matchups are exciting. For some, it might be intimidating, but for the program we have here, it's great.

"The type of kids that we're trying attract here at South Alabama are the ones that want to play in these high-profile games. We see this as a great opportunity. We're definitely going to respect every team that's on the schedule."

The Jags will play two exhibitions against SEC opponents. The first, against LSU on Aug. 7, will take place in Orange Beach, Ala., before a home tilt against Ole Miss on Aug. 11 in Mobile.

"When we came into this thing and we took the job, we knew Auburn and Florida State were on the calendar, so as a coaching staff, we said we wanted to play top competition to prepare us for those games," Moodie said. "The LSU and Ole Miss games naturally will prepare us mentally, physically, tactically, technically – however you want to look at it in soccer terms – and it will give us an opportunity to get our 10 new girls playing together. The schedule will be tough but the preseason will allow us to jell together and allow those new players to be taken under the wing of the veterans."

The season begins in earnest Aug. 18 at Auburn, in a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament matchup won by the Tigers. On Aug. 20, USA will travel to Florida State in another return game from 2016, when the Jags defeated the then-No. 1 Seminoles at The Cage 1-0.

"When I was hiring a staff, the thing I was pitching to them was, do you want to be coaching in this game, or coaching in this game? An opportunity to coach against Auburn and Florida State is something every coach should want. To do this in the same weekend is going to be a test of character and mental strength."

South Alabama will open its home schedule Aug. 27 vs. Murray State, then hosts a four-team event Sept. 1 and 3. Troy and Jacksonville State start things off on Friday before the Jags take on Alabama. On Sunday, Troy will face Alabama in the opener, while USA and Jacksonville State will be the second half of the doubleheader.

Non-conference play concludes the next weekend with a home match against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 8 and a road trip to Mississippi State on Sept. 10.

League play commences Sept. 15 against Appalachian State with the first of three straight home matches. Louisiana-Monroe, led by former Jaguar assistant Keyton Wheelock, comes to Mobile on Sept. 17, and Georgia State wraps up the homestand on Sept. 24.

"You have to win all of your home contests if you want to be a contender in the conference, and that's not just in the Sun Belt, that's every conference," Moodie noted. "For me, being new to the conference, playing at home can be an advantage because we've become completely different and a bit more unpredictable. Playing the first three at home gives us a chance to get an edge on people."

USA goes to Georgia Southern on Sept. 29, then faces archrival Troy on Oct. 1. The Trojans ended the Jags' 33-game conference unbeaten streak last season in Mobile, but USA gained revenge in the Sun Belt Tournament, winning 1-0 in the quarterfinals.

The final two home games of the season are Oct. 8 against Little Rock and Oct. 13 vs. Arkansas State.

South Alabama wraps up the regular season with three consecutive road games, starting Oct. 15 at Coastal Carolina, followed by trips to Louisiana-Lafayette on Oct. 20 and Texas State on Oct. 22.

The Sun Belt Tournament will be held Nov. 1-5 at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex in Foley, Ala. The Jaguars won the tournament last year without giving up a single goal.

"I think it works to the advantage of the conference because of the location and facility, it makes for a fantastic environment," Moodie said. "For us, being so close to home, it's beneficial too."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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