MIAMI, Fla. ? The University of South Alabama women’s soccer team defeated Florida International 3-1 Sunday afternoon snapping a five-game skid to improve to 5-11 overall and 3-5 in conference play. FIU falls to 4-10 overall and 2-6 in the SBC.
“We played well and with a lot of fight today,” said head coach Mike Varga. “This is one we really needed.”
Freshman Tiara Smith scored the first goal just 14 minutes into the match as FIU keeper Madeline Gannon came out to field a loose ball. Smith took advantage and found an empty net. The Golden Panthers fought back as Nanna Rasmussen took a pass from Maria Gualdron and fired a shot from 10 yards out into the upper right corner to tie the match in the 33rd minute.
The Jags scored the game winner early in the second half as freshman Sam Stocker received a pass from senior Jenn Edgar and shot the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Just four minutes later Edgar assisted on an insurance goal for the Jaguars as she found freshman Amanda Douglas who fired a long, high curving shot from 30 yards out past Gannon for a 3-1 advantage and Douglas’ first collegiate goal.
Smith led the Jags with four shots, two on goal. Douglas recorded two shots, while Edgar, Stocker and junior Michelle Leppert each had one shot.
The Jaguars will continue their road trip as they take on Louisiana-Lafayette on Fri. Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe on Sun. Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
