Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. – Against a Murray State club that hadn't let in a single goal in its first four matches, University of South Alabama women's soccer couldn't have started better after sophomore forward Jordan Duncan put the Jaguars ahead three minutes in en route to a 2-0 USA victory at The Cage on Friday.
"For us to get that early goal, it really set the momentum," said USA head coach Graham Winkworth. "(Murray State) is a team that works hard all over the field. They are a very well-organized defensive unit. I'm so proud of the girls' efforts, because we played a different way today, but it was nice to score an early goal."
The Racers (3-1-1) entered Friday's match having nearly doubled their opponents' shot total, 80-47; however, the Jaguars (6-1-1) peppered 21 shots on Murray State's defense and held the Ohio Valley Conference outfit to only five on the night.
Freshman Lauren Allison fired eight shots on Friday to lead the Jags offensively, placing four on target in addition to a 33rd-minute conversion that doubled the Jaguar advantage in front of another raucous Mobile crowd of 586.
Melissa Drish made her sixth start in the Jaguar net and recorded three saves in USA's second straight shutout victory. The Jags welcome a struggling Alabama A&M to The Cage on Sunday at 1 p.m. to round out the weekend.
Less than two minutes into Friday's match, Duncan found space through the left channel of the Racer defense and ran onto a gashing ball played by Jaguar left back Nini Rabsatt-Smith, taking a touch before curling her fourth goal of the year over Murray State keeper Savanna Haberman for a 1-0 South Alabama lead.
Substitute Alyssa Mayer set up USA's second goal less than five minutes after coming on when she slid a through ball into Allison's path through the heart of the Racer defense, and the goalscorer calmly placed her ninth of the season to Haberman's left for USA's assurance.
"We've scored in every game so far this season," Winkworth said. "It just shows that's the style of soccer we want to play here. I felt we didn't (win 50-50 balls) against UAB last week, and we found ourselves three goals down very early. Tonight, I asked a little bit more of them, and they did a good job for all 90 minutes tonight. They've worked extremely hard, and I'm so proud of the team. It's just so difficult to pick an 11 every week, because we've got a lot of talent here."
USA looked to add to its total in the second period, but could not convert despite racking up 12 shots. USA dominated in corner kicks, 4-1.
-- University of South Alabama Game Report --
Match: USA (6-1-1) vs. Murray State (3-1-1)
Date: September 13, 2013
Competition: Regular Season, Non-conference
Venue: The Cage (Mobile, Ala.)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: 586
Weather: 84 degrees, windy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Murray State 0 0 0
USA 2 0 2
USA – Jordan Duncan (Nini Rabsatt-Smith) – 2nd minute
USA – Lauren Allison (Alyssa Mayer) – 33rd minute
Starting Lineups:
USA : 13-Melissa Drish (GK); 3-Nikki Shirtcliffe; 4-Emily Farrell; 5-Nini Rabsatt-Smith; 7-Lauren Allison; 10-Clarissa Hernandez; 12-Monique Autmon 15-Jordan Duncan; 22-Shelby Owen; 23-Morgan Motes; 24-Jess Oram
Head Coach: Graham Winkworth
Murray State : 0-Savanna Haberman; 3-Julie Mooney; 7-Shauna Wicker; 9-Kaitlyn Hayes; 10-Bronagh Kerins; 14-Lauren Frazier; 17-Kelsey Smith; 18-Tasha Merritt; 20-Rebecca Bjorkvall; 21-Taylor Stevens; 24-Kenzie Downey
Head coach: Beth Acreman
Stats Summary: USA / Murray State
Shots: 21 / 5
Saves: 3 / 7
Offsides: 4 / 0
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 11 / 13
Misconduct Summary:
YC-USA #22 (49:36); YC-USA #TM (49:47); YC-USA #4 (54:00); YC-MUR #16 (76:14); YC-USA #15 (89:46)
Officials:
Head Referee: Rainier Kelly
Assistant Referee 1: Dino Andrianopolous
Assistant Referee 2: Erin Plitsch
Alternate Official: Eric Ackermann
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
—USA—
