• South Alabama unable to break through early, ‘Dogs score two and three in each interval.
• Motes, Hernandez, Perry named to Bulldog Classic all-tourney team
• Jags to host 3-0 Alabama on Friday

 
Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Earning its share of scoring chances shortly after going down a goal to Mississippi State midway through the opening half at the Bulldog Classic on Sunday, the University of South Alabama women’s soccer team was unable to equalize and succumbed to a 5-0 drubbing in the tournament’s championship match.
 
The teams were level through the opening 20 minutes, with each recording a shot and corner, but a goal in the 22^nd from MSU’s Amy Hoover broke the deadlock, making South Alabama’s (2-2-0) scoring chances all the more imperative.
 
Junior midfielder Morgan Motes responded in the 24^th and 26^th minutes, peppering shots on the Bulldog defense, but each effort sailed, as did freshman forward Jordan Duncan’s shortly after.
 
A header from substitute midfielder Shawn Meach in the 36^th forced a save out of MSU goaltender Skylar Rosson, and Shawna Trunca came off the bench to fire a shot in the 40^th.
 
Three minutes shy of the halftime whistle the hosts went offside and committed a foul, and with the half destined to end, the Bulldogs struck with 16 ticks remaining off a finish from Halee Heltsley, who beat USA keeper Lauren Arnold one-on-one to double the Jag deficit.
 
“We had our opportunities to score in the first half and they had theirs,” said head coach Mike Varga. “They scored theirs; we didn’t. It’s disappointing to lose any match, Mississippi State is a good team, but we have to learn how to dig out of a hole.”

Hoover (51:24) added another to begin the second half, and tournament MVP Elisabeth Sullivan (65:14) and Madison McKee (74:02) both added goals for MSU in the second half. Sullivan tallied three goals and an assist over the weekend to earn the honor. The Bulldogs bounced back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat UT-Martin 3-2 and advance to the final.
 
Motes, and fellow-junior midfielders Clarissa Hernandez and Tatum Perry were named to the Bulldog Classic all-tournament team after the match. Both Motes and Perry scored in Friday’s 2-0 defeat of Mississippi Valley State, with Hernandez assisting on both. Perry’s goal was her second on the season.
 
After splitting its second two-game home-and-away weekend to open the 2012 campaign, the Jags will relish in a four-game homestead that will last through the second week of September, beginning with another Southeastern Conference and in-state foe, Alabama.
 
The Tide are 3-0-0 and have outscored its opponents 7-1 in each win, most recently dispatching UAB 4-0 on Sunday in Birmingham.
 
The match will take place at The Cage on Friday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. 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.
 

Match: USA vs. Mississippi State
Date: August 26, 2012
Competition: Bulldog Classic   
Venue: MSU Soccer Field
Kickoff: 2 p.m. CT
Attendance: 402
Weather: 84 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                         0   0   0
MSU                         2  3   5
 
MSU – Amy Hoover (Elisabeth Sullivan) 22^nd minute
MSU – Halee Heltsley (Morganne Grimes) 44^th minute
MSU – Amy Hoover (Honeye Heydari) 51^st minute
MSU – Elisabeth Sullivan (Honeye Heydari)
MSU – Madison McKee (Morganne Grimes) 74^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

MSU : 1-Skylar Rosson (GK); 2-Elisabeth Sullivan, 4-Amy Hoover, 6-Morganne Grimes, 9-Honeye Heydari; 10-Shelby Jordan, 15-Lauren Morgan, 17-Shannen Jainudeen, 23-Dana Forbes; 24-Madison McKee, 30-Julie Waddle
Head coach: Neil Macdonald

Stats Summary: USA / MSU
Shots: 11 / 14
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 3 / 3
Fouls: 14 / 13

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Yellow Card (Team) – 45^th minute

Officials:
Referee: Hossein Mofidi  
Assistant Referee 1: Steve Walker
Assistant Referee 2: Ken Headley
Alternate Official: Uwe Tittl
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).