TAMPA, Fla. - The University of South Alabama women’s soccer team dropped its opening match of the 2006 season at the USF Dafeldecker Classic, 1-0 to Alabama A&M. USA will conclude the tournament on Sunday.

"We gave away a goal on a defensive lapse in the second half and played catch up from there," Jaguar head coach Mike Varga said. "We played really poorly tonight and our youth and inexperience really showed. We didn't play with composure and we made too many mistakes.”

The game was scoreless through the first half. Jaguar sophomore goalkeeper Kelsie Langford made four saves in the opening period as AAMU fired six shots. USA did not record a shot in the opening half.

AAMU scored the game winner just three minutes into the second half as LaTisha Davis hit pay dirt at the 48:15 mark. The Jaguars made a valiant effort in the second half as they recorded four shots with two by freshman Amanda Douglas, but were unable to get anything past AAMU goalkeeper Priscilla Mensah.

"As the season goes on and we play more together, we will be fine," Varga said. "We need to get better quickly as we play a very good South Florida team on Sunday."

The Jaguars will face host South Florida on Sunday at 12 p.m. central time to conclude the tournament. USA will open the home portion of the schedule on Fri., Sept. 1 against Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m. at The Cage.