MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team will continue Sun Belt Conference action when they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to face off with Middle Tennessee Thursday at 7 p.m. before returning home to take on Western Kentucky Sunday at 1p.m. in their last home game of the season.

“With the travel involved and both of the teams involved, it makes this a difficult weekend,” said USA head coach Mike Varga. “We have a road game and a home game, but we’re relatively healthy and we’ve been playing well as of late. I’m looking forward to playing two quality opponents in Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.”

USA (11-3-2, 4-2-1 SBC) enters the matches on the heels of a two-win weekend. The Jaguars shut out Arkansas State 2-0 on Oct. 14 and topped UALR 3-1 on Oct. 16 to remain unbeaten at The Cage.

Offensively, the Jags are led by senior forward Brandi Smith (Red Oak, Texas). Smith has netted a team-high 11 goals and added three assists.

South Alabama goalkeeper sophomore Melissa Drish (Conyers, Ga.) has made 84 saves this season to preserve a career-high six shutouts.  

The Blue Raiders lead the all-time series with the Jags 7-6-1 after MTSU topped USA 1-0 in Mobile.

Middle Tennessee stands at 9-7 overall and 6-2 in conference play. Most recently, the Blue Raiders defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 2-0 in Lafayette, La. and Louisiana-Monroe 3-1 in Monroe, La.

Regina Thomas paces the Blue Raider offense with team-high six goals and one assist this season. Thomas is followed by Shan Jones who has netted five goals and added two assists.

In the all-time series between the Jags and the Hilltoppers, WKU leads USA 7-4. Last season, South Alabama shut out Western Kentucky 2-0 in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Hilltoppers (10-5-1, 5-2-1 SBC) will square off with Troy in Bowling Green before heading to Mobile for Sunday’s match with the Jaguars.  Last weekend, WKU shut out both ULL and ULM 1-0.

Mallory Outerbridge leads Western Kentucky with 12 goals and three assists. Outerbridge is ranked 5th in the country in game-winning goals with six and 19th in total goals.

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).