• USA Holds Mississippi Valley State to zero shots
• Clarissa Hernandez tallies two assists in 2-0 victory over Devilettes
• USA bounces back from Aug. 19 loss to Mercer, builds momentum ahead of host-Mississippi State Bulldogs

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The University of South Alabama women’s soccer team played its most complete game thus far this season on Friday, as it held the Mississippi State Devilettes to zero shots on goal for the first time since 2002 and scored a goal in each half to win 2-0 in game one of the Bulldog Classic at Mississippi State Soccer Stadium.
 
USA (2-1-0, 0-0-0 SBC) controlled the game from the first touch and its effort was rewarded in the 35^th minute when junior defender Jess Oram sought out midfielder Clarissa Hernandez, who then completed a successful ball through the defense to find fellow-center mid, Morgan Motes. Motes controlled the touch and beat MVSU (0-1-0, 0-0-0 SWAC) keeper Shelby Willcocks one-on-one to put the Jags ahead 1-0.
 
“We controlled the run of play throughout the game today,” said head coach Mike Varga. “Our opponent gave us some room to play and I was pleased with our effort.”
 
Tatum Perry gave the Jags breathing room in the 47^th, slotting her second goal of the season home after another stabbing pass from Hernandez to double the USA advantage to 2-0.
 
“Clarissa played a very good match for us today,” said Varga of the Pensacola, Fla., native. “She commanded the midfield today and set up both goals to be very easy finishes.”
 
USA goalkeeper Lauren Arnold need only brush the bottoms of her shoes after Friday’s match, which featured not a single shot from Mississippi Valley State, as the Jags dominated the shot count, 24-0. Arnold entered the game tied for second in saves in the Sun Belt Conference with 14.
 
“I was very pleased with how we played defensively,” Varga added. “They gave us confidence to go forward throughout.”
 
Twenty Lady Jaguars appeared in Friday’s match, with substitutes Madison Rodwell and Dani Garcia leading the team in shots with five and four, respectively.  Wingers Alyssa Mayer and Perry each recorded three apiece. USA also led in corners 5-2.
 
“Overall, we played well enough to get the win today,” Varga concluded. “We could’ve been more efficient in front of the goal, but we got a lot of student-athletes onto the field today and tonight we’ll watch Mississippi State play and start thinking about how to attack Sunday.”
 
Kickoff between South Alabama and the host-Bulldogs is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday. Results will be posted to the Jaguar athletics website immediately following the match.


Additional Notes:

• Hernandez recorded career assists eight and nine on Friday.
• Every Jaguar field player touched the field in USA’s victory.
• Perry scored her second goal this season since making the transition from right back to midfielder during the preseason.
• The Jags have now held opponents to zero shots four times in history, the previous coming in 1994 against Spring Hill, the next against South Carolina State in ’99 and third in 2002 versus Prairie View.
• The Jaguar defense has played 106 consecutive minutes without allowing a shot.
• USA is now 4-0 all-time versus MVSU, raising the all-time scoreline to 17-2.

 

Match: USA vs. Mississippi Valley State
Date: August 24, 2012
Competition: Bulldog Classic   
Venue: MSU Soccer Field
Kickoff: 4 p.m. CT
Attendance: 110
Weather: 80 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                         1   1   2
MVSU                         0  0   0
USA – Morgan Motes (Clarissa Hernandez, Jess Oram) 35^th minute
USA – Tatum Perry (Clarissa Hernandez) 47^th minute

Starting Lineups:
USA : 1-Lauren Arnold (GK); 8-Tina Schaar, 10-Clarissa Hernandez, 11-Alli Cochran, 15-Jordan Duncan; 16-Emi Passini, 18-Alyssa Mayer, 20-Tatum Perry, 22-Shelby Owen; 23-Morgan Motes, 24-Jess Oram
Head Coach: Mike Varga

MVSU : 6-Shelby Willcocks (GK); 4-Kayla Boyd, 7-Bianca Vigilante, 9-Alexis Mansoor, 10-Kristin Swanson; 11-Hailey Beekman, 12-Kadie Soall, 16-Alexandra Neumann, 17-Maureen Papaconsta; 18-Nicolle Forcier, 22-Shanesse Spratt
Head coach: Sonia Curvelo

Stats Summary: USA / MVSU
Shots: 24 / 0
Shots on Goal:8 / 0
Saves: 0 / 6
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 4 / 3
Offside: 3 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
none

Officials:
Referee: Luis Guardia  
Assistant Referee 1: Eric Zimmer
Assistant Referee 2: Ethan Beisher
Alternate Official: Paul Stanton

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).