USA vs. ULM box score

MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama sophomore defender Shelby Owen (Trussville, Ala.) netted the golden goal pushing the Jaguar soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Sun Belt Conference rival Louisiana at Monroe Sunday afternoon at The Cage.

Owen headed a corner kick by sophomore Kristyn Thacker (Ellenwood, Ga.) into the back of the net in the 98th-minute to give the Jaguars the win.

“We’ve been getting close on corners,” said USA head coach Mike Varga. “I hated that it went to overtime. We had a couple of good chances at the end of regulation, but it’s an exciting way to win a match. We kept battling and I felt like a goal was in there for us. We just put a lot of pressure around the net, got a bounce off of Shelby’s head and got the goal to win.” 

South Alabama (9-1-1, 2-0 SBC) is off to the best start in program history and remains unbeaten in its last 10 matches. This is also the first time since the 2008 season that the Jags have opened conference play at 2-0. ULM falls to 5-5-1 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.

“Louisiana-Monroe is a much improved team,” Varga said. “They worked hard, they were very organized and they made it very difficult for us to break them down. We had some chances, but I give them a lot of credit. They worked hard and they’re a good team.”

After a scoreless first half, Louisiana-Monroe’s Taylor Bonetti salvaged a ball that bounced off the crossbar to put the Warhawks on the board in the 62nd minute of the match.

Twenty seconds later a ULM foul inside the box set up a penalty kick for the Jags, which sophomore Clarissa Hernandez (Pensacola, Fla.) capitalized on to tie the game at 1-1.

The Jaguar defense held the Warhawks to eight shots on the day while USA’s offense was able to put up 23.

South Alabama goalkeeper sophomore Melissa Drish (Conyers, Ga.) recorded five saves to pick up her ninth win of the season.

Next, the Jags will head to Florida to take on Florida Atlantic Sept. 30 at 7p.m. and Florida International Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.

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).