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2012 UALR Soccer Quick Facts

2012 Arkansas State Soccer Quick Facts


MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s soccer team welcomes UALR and Arkansas State this weekend in what will be its final two-match weekend at The Cage this season, ahead of a four-match road slate spanning three states before the Jaguars host Troy to end the regular season.
 
USA (6-6-1, 1-2 SBC) is coming off a 4-0 undoing at the hands of North Texas last Friday in Denton, a match in which the Jaguars were held to zero shots, giving up all scores after the half. South Alabama was able to rest Sunday, as the odd number of Sun Belt Conference teams allows for a one-match weekend on each team’s respective schedule.
 
“This past Sunday off came at a good time,” said head coach Mike Varga. “We have some players with bumps and bruises at this time of the season just like every other team, but it was good to get our legs back and get ready for this weekend.”
 
The Jaguars are currently seventh in SBC standings with a single win out of three league matches, the lone victory against Florida Atlantic – a 1-0 win on Sept. 23. In its first league tilt, USA fell to FIU, 1-0, on Sept. 21 at The Cage on an own goal in the second half.
 
USA junior midfielder Clarissa Hernandez scored the squad’s only goal in conference play against FAU on a free kick in the first half, placing her third in the league in the category of game-winners. The Pensacola, Fla., native is also ninth in shots per game (3.33/match). USA keeper Melissa Drish currently resides in the top eight of six statistical categories including: Shutouts per game (3^rd; 0.33), save percentage (4^th; .810), saves per game (4^th; 5.67), saves (5^th; 17), shutouts (T-5^th; 1) and goals-against average (8^th; 1.45).
 
UALR is currently 1-11 on the year, sitting behind Troy at last in the SBC with four losses in league play. The Trojans’ lone victory came against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 4-0, on Sept. 9. UALR has been outscored 12-0 in conference competition and 41-7 throughout the season. The Trojans are led in points by sophomore midfielder Ariel Galletti (6). The Lake Balboa, Calif., native has scored twice and tallied two assists this year.
 
USA is 11-5-1 all-time versus UALR, and neither team has put together successive wins over the other since the Jaguars did it in 2005 and 2006. South Alabama is 6-2 versus UALR in Mobile, outscoring the Trojans 20-10 through the span.
 
“I anticipate another good week of training and preparation and for us to be ready to play this Friday night against UALR,” added Varga. “UALR is a talented team with a deceptive record. They have the ability to create chances and are a well-coached team.” 
 
Arkansas State tied a school record for most wins in a season when it defeated Louisiana-Lafayette, 2-0, at home last weekend for its eighth victory of the year and second in four league matches. The Red Wolves have produced a perfect home record (6-0), but are 2-5 on the road, with recent losses to Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. ASU is led by Christina Fink, a sophomore LSU transfer that has put in six goals and added five assists. The sophomore has tallied three game-winning goals this season.
 
USA is 9-2-1 all-time versus the Red Wolves and 7-0 in Mobile, outscoring ASU 15-3 at The Cage dating back to 2000.
 
“The focus this week is on us and what we need to do to have success this weekend and the remainder of the season,” Varga said. “Hopefully, we will have good crowds like we have had recently. The support we have at home plays a part of our home success. We feed off the energy of the crowd, and the atmosphere at the matches has been very good.”
 
Kickoff for Friday’s match is slated for 7 p.m., and Sunday’s match will begin at 1 p.m. Results will be posted to the Jaguar athletics webpage immediately following the match. All home soccer matches throughout the season will be free to all attendees. The Cage is located on Old Shell Road just east of Stanky Field.
 
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).