• Thacker strikes twice in second season appearance
• Jags record second-consecutive home shutout
• South Alabama soccer moves to 3-1 at The Cage

 
Box Score
 
MOBILE, Ala. – Junior forward Kristyn Thacker scored her second and third goals of the season on Friday in only her second appearance of the 2012 campaign, as the Jags dealt Southern Mississippi a 2-0 defeat at The Cage.
 
After knocking off Alabama State with a similar scoreline on Tuesday, South Alabama (4-3-0) now moves to 3-1 at home this year ahead of Sunday’s match versus Louisiana Tech (5-1-1), which has already faced two Sun Belt Conference opponents this year, tying Troy, 0-0, and beating UALR, 1-0.
 
The Jags doubled Southern Mississippi’s (2-2-1) shot total in the first half - firing eight times and forcing Golden Eagle keeper Lindsay Schwaner into four saves – but, once again, could not break through before the half. A true second-half team, however, USA weathered four consecutive USM shots before junior midfielder Morgan Motes found Thacker streaking down the left side on the eve of the 59^th minute, and two inside cuts later, Thacker crushed a right-footed shot into the far upper-90 to make it 1-0.
 
A series of substitutions followed, and again, USM turned up the heat, firing another four consecutive shots on the USA defense, but with its numbers high up the field, USM’s defense was spread too thin, leaving Thacker open again on the wing, this time found on an identical ball from midfielder Shawn Meach. Thacker received the long pass on the left side of the area, took one touch and doubled the Jaguar lead with a calm bottom-shelf finish to seal the game in the 87th minute.
 
“Kristyn has provided a spark for us the past couple of games, she hasn’t been healthy, but we’ve got her back – she’s probably not even 100-percent yet. Her first goal was from a very good cut across the face of a defender and a great finish; she’s capable of that every time she touches the ball.”
 
After Friday’s performance, Thacker now leads the team in goals (3) and points (6). Motes tallied her second assist of the season and Meach’s was her first. Thacker’s start was the second consecutive for the Ellenwood, Ga., native, who first appeared against ASU on Tuesday, scoring the first of two USA goals in the shutout victory.
 
South Alabama keeper Lauren Arnold recorded two saves in her second-straight shutout of the season and third overall. USA outshot Southern Miss 17-15 on the night.
 
The Jaguars now turn to Louisiana Tech on Sunday, a match that will mark the final home slate against a non-conference opponent before Sun Belt action gets underway on Sept. 21, when USA welcomes Florida International.
 
The series between the schools is tied at 1-1, with the last matchup ending in a 4-0 season-opening defeat for the Jagsin 2011. The premier showdown between the two took place in Mobile in 2004 and ended a 12-0 USA rout of the Lady Techsters, the fifth-highest margin of victory in South Alabama history and the most goals a USA team has scored since.
 
LA-Tech has won five of its seven matches this season, outscoring its opponents 21-2. The Lady Techsters have won two of three road slates this year, their only defeat coming at the hands of Jacksonville State in a slim 1-0 Trojan Classic (Troy, Ala.) championship-match loss.
 
“This was a tough weekend I put together so that we’ll be ready for conference,” Varga said. “Southern Miss is a very good team – they’ve had some good results this year. We played well tonight, and the girls know we’re going to have to play really well on Sunday to give ourselves a chance to win.”
 
Sunday’s match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at The Cage. 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. Southern Miss
Date: September 7, 2012
Competition: Regular season, non-conference   
Venue: The Cage (Mobile, Ala.)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
Attendance: 203
Weather: 86 degrees, clear skies
Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                         0   2   2
USM                       0   0   0

USA – Kristyn Thacker (Morgan Motes) 58^th minute
USA – Kristyn Thacker (Shawn Meach) 87^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

USM : 0-Lindsey Schwaner (GK); 2-Missy Wentz; 8-Brooke Hendrix; 9-Conner McKie; 10-Casey Adkins; 11-Shelbi Moeller; 12-Danica Roberts; 15-Natasha Lombardo; 23-Caitlin Leumas; 25-Jordan Wagner; 26-Chelsea Cruthirds
Head coach: Scott Ebke

Stats Summary: USA / USM
Shots: 17 / 15
Shots on Goal: 8 / 2
Saves: 4 / 10
Corner Kicks: 2 / 3
Offside: 3 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
none

Officials:
Referee: Uwe Tittl
Assistant Referee 1: Sam Bilbo
Assistant Referee 2: David Busekist
Alternate Official: Darrin Browder

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).