Box Score
 

• Hernandez Scores Free Kick From 22 Yards Out for Jaguar Win
• South Alabama Records Fifth Shutout of Season
• USA Rebounds From Friday Loss to FIU to Split Opening Weekend of Sun Belt Conference Play

MOBILE, Ala. – With the Florida Atlantic defense setting up to defend it, the University of South Alabama’s Clarissa Hernandez struck a free kick in the first half from 22 yards out that found an open net to put the Jaguar women’s soccer team ahead of the Owls 1-0 at The Cage on Sunday.
 
South Alabama (6-5-1, 1-1-0 SBC) bounced back from a 1-0 defeat versus FIU on Friday to split the opening weekend of Sun Belt Conference play. FAU drops to 3-6 on the year after blanking Troy 2-0 on Friday.
 
Hernandez placed the ball at the spot of a FAU foul 22 yards from the center of Owl keeper Ashley Lantes’s net, just over the 30-minute mark. As the visitors scrambled to set their defensive shape, Hernandez quickly knocked the ball into an uninhabited goal, as Lantes was hugging the post and directing her four-person wall. The goal was Hernandez’s second of the season and her first game-winner.
 
“It was a smart play from Clarissa,” said head coach Mike Varga. “She knew when to strike the ball, given the situation.”
 
The Jaguars outshot FAU 7-4 in the first half, taking a lead into the break for only the second time in 12 matches this season. The Owls came out firing in the second half, tallying 11 shots to the home team’s five, but USA’s defense disallowed each FAU scoring opportunity to preserve its fifth shutout of the year. USA keeper Melissa Drish recorded six saves in her second consecutive start.
 
“FAU is a hard-working, physically strong team that battles for 90 minutes,” added Varga. “I’m proud that we hung in there; we showed some toughness.”
 
USA is now 3-1-1 all-time versus FAU in Mobile. The Jaguars will travel to Denton on Friday to take on North Texas before returning to Mobile to host UALR on Sunday. Kickoff for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7 p.m., and Sunday’s match is slated for 1 p.m.
 
 


Match: USA vs. Florida Atlantic
Date: September 23, 2012
Competition: Regular season, Sun Belt Conference   
Venue: The Cage (Mobile, Ala.)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT
Attendance: 200
Weather: 77 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                         1   0   1
FAU                         0   0   0

USA – Clarissa Hernandez – 31^st minute

Starting Lineups:
USA : 13-Melissa Drish (GK); 5-Nini Rabsatt-Smith; 10-Clarissa Hernandez; 11-Alli Cochran; 9-Linsey Snavely; 16-Emi Passini; 18-Alyssa Mayer; 20-Tatum Perry; 22-Shelby Owen; 23-Morgan Motes; 24-Jess Oram
Head Coach: Mike Varga

FAU : 1-Ashley Lantes (GK); 2-Taylor Sorrels; 3-Marisa Russo; 4-Amunique Scott; 5-Gabriella Sosa; 6-Ellie Smith; 8-Yazmin Ongtengco; 9-Claire Emslie; 11-Breanna Lewis; 14-Olivia MBala; 21-Brittney Nash
Head coach: Brian Dooley

Stats Summary: USA / FAU
Shots: 12 / 15
Shots on Goal: 5 / 6
Saves: 9 / 6
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
Yellow Card – FAU (Yazmin Ongtengco) – 86^th minute
 
Officials:
Referee: Christoph Schaefer
Assistant Referee 1: Sam Bilbo
Assistant Referee 2: Shawn Mire
Alternate Official: Fred Miljak

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).