MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team will travel to Montgomery, Ala., Friday to take on Alabama State at 7 p.m. before returning home to host Jacksonville State at 1 p.m. Sunday at The Cage.

USA enters the weekend with a 1-1 record while ASU (0-2) is looking to pick up its first win of the season.  JSU stands at 0-2 and will match up with Southern Miss before heading to Mobile to battle with the Jags.

“I haven't been pleased with how we have started our first two matches, so a point of emphasis will be for us to have a good start to both matches this weekend,” said USA head coach Mike Varga.  

The Jags are led by senior Kristin Sutton (Pensacola, Fla.) who scored two goals in USA’s 5-1 defeat of Southern University in their home opener on Tuesday.

The Jaguars lead the all-time series with the Lady Hornets 2-0. South Alabama downed Alabama State 6-1 last season at The Cage.

“Alabama State has steadily been improving over the years and is a good home team,” said Varga. “Coach (Jodie) Smith will have them prepared to play and I look for the match to be a challenge. This will be one of the few matches that we play that is on turf, so we have to be prepared for the challenges that turf adds to the match.”

ASU, who was picked to finish third in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s (SWAC) preseason poll, is coming off of a 4-0 loss at Southeastern Louisiana Sunday. The Lady Hornets’ top performer is Lena Lamas who was named to the 2011 preseason First Team All-SWAC.  

Jacksonville State leads the all-time series with South Alabama 3-2-2. In their last meeting in 2008 the Gamecocks edged the Jags 3-2 at JSU.

The Gamecocks enter the weekend after being shut out by Middle Tennessee 1-0 in double overtime on Sunday.

“Typically Jacksonville State is a well-organized, hard-working team that will make us earn everything we get,” Varga said. “We will have to play well to create chances against them and we will have to be organized to keep them from getting quality looks at our goal. We have had some exciting matches over the years against Jacksonville State, and Sunday shouldn't be any different.”

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).