Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Clarissa Hernandez put the University of South Alabama women’s soccer team ahead through the first half of play at Dean A Hayes Track and Soccer Complex on Sunday, but Middle Tennessee equalized on a free kick after the restart, and USA keeper Lauren Arnold couldn’t corral a Blue Raider shot moments later as MTSU bounced back for a 2-1 result.

Despite being outshot 16-4 in the first 45 minutes, USA (7-8-2, 2-3-1 SBC) kept the nation’s leader in scoring offense at bay, staving the Blue Raiders (11-3, 6-0 SBC) off and taking advantage of the match’s windy conditions to open the scoreline.

USA junior midfielder Clarissa Hernandez received a Madison Rodwell pass and sank a 40-yard bomb to give the Jags a 1-0 lead five minutes from the break. For over 25 minutes, South Alabama preserved its lead, with Arnold tallying several of her nine total saves, but MTSU, a squad that shared the NCAA’s best goals-per-game average (3.29) with Penn State heading into the weekend, rose to the occasion midway through the restart, burying two goals in 25 seconds.

MTSU’s Allison Stallard converted a free kick at 71:56, and at 72:21, Tori Hawkins’s shot deflected off Arnold and into the net for the go-ahead marker.

“The wind was a factor for both teams today,” said USA head coach Mike Varga. “Clarissa took advantage of that to give us a lead. We played hard today, and I was proud of how we played.

“It was tough for us to regroup after the first letdown,” Varga added. “We’ve got to get better at playing through those things. We know every conference game is tough. The wind certainly made it difficult today, but when we moved the ball around to feet we were good.”

The Jaguars will now look to a Thursday matchup at Louisiana-Monroe slated for 3 p.m. USA will play its last away match of the season the following Sunday at Lousiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. Results from each match will be posted to the Jaguar athletics website immediately following.


Match: USA vs. Middle Tennessee
Date: October 14, 2012?
Competition: Regular season, Sun Belt Conference
Venue:  Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Complex (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT
Attendance:
Weather:

Scoring Summary:

USA - Clarissa hernandez (Rodwell, Madison) - 39th minute
MTSU – Allison Stallard (Paige Goeglein) – 71st minute
MTSU– Tori Hawkins – 72nd minute

Starting Lineups:
USA: 1-Lauren Arnold (GK); 5-Nini Rabsatt-Smith; 10-Clarissa Hernandez; 11-Alli Cochran; 9-Linsey Snavely; 16-Emi Passini; 15-Jordan Duncan; 20-Tatum Perry; 22-Shelby Owen; 54-Shawn Meach; 24-Jess Oram
Head Coach: Mike Varga

MTSU: 1-Kelsy Brouwer (GK); 3-Emily Jorgenson ; 8-Tori Hawkins; 9-Amalie Anderdal; 10-Kate Loye; 11-Regina Thomas; 12-Paige Goeglin; 13-Allison Stallard; 15-Whitney Jorgenson; 16-Emily Hartshorn; 24-Charity Blair
Head coach: Aston Rhoden

Stats Summary: USA / MTSU
Shots: 10 / 23
Shots on Goal: 5 / 11
Saves: 9 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 5
Fouls: 9 / 5

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Tatum Perry 86th minute

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).