MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team returns home after a four-match road trip to host Sun Belt Conference foes’ Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock this weekend.

The Jags will do battle with the Red Wolves Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on the Trojans Sunday at 1 p.m. at The Cage for senior day.

“It is nice to be home this weekend after traveling to Miami, Denver and Denton, Texas the past two weekends,” said USA head coach Mike Varga. “The team is anxious to play after having our Sunday match at North Texas canceled. I anticipate having a good week of practice and coming out ready to play on Friday and Sunday. We seem to be pretty healthy for this point in the season which is important going in to these conference matchups.”

The Jaguars (9-3-2, 2-2-1 SBC) are unbeaten at home this season. Last weekend, USA fell to Denver 7-0 on Friday in Denver before their bout with North Texas was canceled due to rain on Sunday.

USA is led offensively by senior forward Brandi Smith (Red Oak, Texas). Smith has tallied a career-high eight goals and three assists this season for a total of 19 points. Smith leads the Jags in points (19), goals (8), shots (60), shots on goal (30) and game-winning goals (4). She is also tied for the No. 16 spot in the country in game-winning goals.

Defensively, South Alabama is led by sophomore goalkeeper Melissa Drish (Conyers, Ga.). Drish has racked up 68 saves in 14 games to preserve a career-high five shutouts.

USA leads the all-time series with Arkansas State 8-2-1. Last season, the Jaguars fell to Arkansas State 2-1 in Jonesboro, Ark.

The Red Wolves are 5-7-2 overall and 3-3 in conference play after shutting out ULM and ULL in Jonesboro last weekend.

Jessica Jingblad, Kara Nitti and Tori Pitts have each recorded five goals for Arkansas State this season. Jingblad has also added five assists.

South Alabama also leads the all-time series with UALR, 10-5-1. The Trojans edged the Jags 3-2 in last season’s matchup in Little Rock, Ark.

UALR (7-8, 3-3 SBC) will take on Troy Friday night before traveling to Mobile to face USA. The Trojans enter the weekend on the heels of a 1-0 shutout of ULL on Oct. 9 in Little Rock.

The Trojans have three student athletes with four goals each including Christina Veasley, Rachael Maina and Ariel Galletti. Galletti has also added one assist this season.  
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).