• Thacker scores in season premier
• Rodwell tallies first collegiate goal
• Jags register 40 shots to ASU’s eight
• South Alabama defense notches second shutout of season

Box Score
 
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s soccer team avenged recent back-to-back losses with a 2-0 win over Alabama State at The Cage on Tuesday.
 
The Jaguars (3-3-0, 0-0-0 SBC) racked up 40 total shots, 16 on target, to ASU’s (1-4-0, 0-0-0 SWAC) eight. In her first appearance of the 2012 campaign, junior Kristyn Thacker put USA on the board shortly after the interval, and freshman Madison Rodwell doubled the advantage moments later, netting her first collegiate goal.
 
“I thought we came out strong at the start,” said head coach Mike Varga. “We created good chances, and I liked our energy.”
 
Peppering the Lady Hornet defense with 18 shots in the first stanza, USA dictated play from kickoff, but could not break through until the second half. Nearing the 54-minute mark, junior midfielder Morgan Motes fired a dipping shot at ASU keeper Kylee Hathaway, who managed to block the effort, only to have Thacker pounce on the loose ball and drive it into the side netting, putting the Jags ahead 1-0.
 
Eleven minutes later, USA winger Tatum Perry beat a Lady Hornet defender to the endline and centered a low-driven ball across the State goalmouth to her midfield counterpart, Rodwell, who took a touch and buried the effort for the 2-0 win.
 
USA goalkeeper Lauren Arnold recorded one save in what was her second shutout of the season, the first coming against Mississippi Valley State on Aug. 24. Thacker and junior midfielder Clarissa Hernandez led the Lady Jags in shots with six apiece, while forwards Jordan Duncan and Shawna Trunca each had five. Freshman midfielder Alli Cochran put three of her four shots on frame, and USA held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Perry’s assist, plus two prior goals, now makes her the Jags’ outright leader in points (5). USA is now 2-1 at The Cage this season, ahead of a two-game home tilt scheduled for this weekend, when the Jags welcome Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech on Friday and Sunday.
 
“Southern Miss is a solid team,” said Varga. “We’ve had some tough games with them in the past few years, and I know they’ll come over ready to play. I think if we play with energy like we had tonight, we’ll score some goals and give ourselves chances to win. We got some confidence back with the game tonight.”
 
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. Alabama State
Date: September 4, 2012
Competition: Regular season, non-conference   
Venue: The Cage (Mobile, Ala.)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
Attendance: 150
Weather: 84 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                         0   2   2
ASU                       0   0   0

USA – Kristyn Thacker (Morgan Motes) 53^rd minute
USA – Madison Rodwell (Tatum Perry) 64^th minute

Starting Lineups:
USA : 1-Lauren Arnold (GK); 5-Nini Rabsatt-Smith, 10-Clarissa Hernandez, 11-Alli Cochran, 15-Jordan Duncan; 16-Emi Passini, 6-Kristyn Thacker, 20-Tatum Perry, 22-Shelby Owen; 23-Morgan Motes, 24-Jess Oram
Head Coach: Mike Varga

ASU : 00-Kaylee Hathaway (GK); 3-Helma Von Zadow; 5-Alena Salsberg; 6-India Pleasant; 9-Alexandria Cannon; 10-Lenna Lamas; 11-Anastasia McCleary; 13-Stephanie Howard; 14-Iita Pienimaki, 18-Mariel Smith; 8-Kaedi Walther
Head coach: Jodie Smith

Stats Summary: USA / ASU
Shots: 40 / 8
Shots on Goal:16 / 3
Saves: 3 / 14
Corner Kicks: 5 / 0
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
none

Officials:
Referee: Mitchell Jacobs
Assistant Referee 1: Darrin Browder
Assistant Referee 2: Shawn Mire
Alternate Official: Scott Hannah

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).