Box Score
 
MURRAY, Ky. – After overtime heroics won the match for the University of South Alabama women’s soccer team at Austin Peay on Friday, the Jaguars were stunned in extra time on Sunday by a late strike from Murray State freshman Taylor Stevens, who converted a rebound opportunity in front of the Jaguar net with only 1.3 seconds remaining.
 
Heading into overtime, USA (5-4-1, 0-0-0 SBC) held a 19-11 shot advantage over the Racers
(2-5-0, 0-0-0 OVC), its best opportunities coming in the 55^th and 59^th minutes when forwards Shawna Trunca and Jordan Duncan each had targeted efforts denied by the MSU woodwork.
 
After the squads traded shots in the first two minutes of added play, trouble built quickly for the Jaguars when MSU won a corner seconds away from the break. Murray State’s Meg Hudson ripped a shot at USA keeper Lauren Arnold, who parried the effort towards the penalty spot, where Stevens attacked the loose rebound and netted the game-winner.
 
“It was a mental error on our part, to give up a late goal like that,” said head coach Mike Varga. “Because of the amount of time left, we dropped our guard and Murray State found a way to win. We created plenty of chances and carried most of the momentum of the match, but we shouldn’t have given up a goal today.”
 
The Jaguar loss is its first in four matches since rebounding from a 9-0 defeat against Alabama on Aug. 31. The last time USA played three or more successive overtime matches was in 2002, when it took four consecutive opponents to extra time, losing to twelfth-ranked Tennessee before tying Austin Peay, Louisiana-Lafayette and ninth-ranked Rice.
 
USA freshman midfielder paced the Jags offensively with six shots, three on target. Clarissa Hernandez, Tatum Perry and substitute Natalie Parsons added three shots apiece. Arnold recorded six saves on the day.
 
South Alabama will now concentrate its focus on the start of Sun Belt Conference play next weekend when the Jags host FIU on Friday and Florida-Atlantic on Sunday. FIU leads the all-time series with USA 7-6 and Florida-Atlantic leads 4-2-2.
 
Kickoff for Friday’s match is set for 7 p.m., and Sunday’s match is slated for 1 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. Murray State
Date: September 16, 2012
Competition: Regular season, non-conference   
Venue: Cutchin Field (Murray, Ky.)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT
Attendance: 180
Weather:
Scoring Summary: 1   2   OT1   F
USA                         0   0   0        0         
MURRAY                0   0   1        1

MURRAY – Taylor Stevens (Hudson, Meg) 99^th minute

Starting Lineups:
USA : 1-Lauren Arnold (GK); 5-Nini Rabsatt-Smith; 10-Clarissa Hernandez; 11-Alli Cochran; 29-Shawna Trunca; 16-Emi Passini; 12-Madison Rodwell; 20-Tatum Perry; 22-Shelby Owen; 23-Morgan Motes; 24-Jess Oram
Head Coach: Mike Varga

MURRAY : 0-Latisha Stevenson (GK); 3-Julie Mooney; 4-Meg Hudson; 5-Rachel Walker; 7-Shauna Wicker; 10-Bronagh Kerins; 14-Veronika Pribyslavsk; 15-Amber Hanson; 16-Racheal Foxley; 21-Taylor Stevens; 22-Halle Pinkham
Head coach: Beth Acreman

Stats Summary: USA / MURRAY
Shots: 20 / 15
Shots on Goal: 7 / 7
Saves: 6 / 7
Corner Kicks: 7 / 6
Offside: 0 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
none

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).