JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of South Alabama women's soccer left Friday's 1-0 loss to South Florida chin-up after matching the red hot Bulls for much of the contest, but the club's loss to North Florida by the same scoreline on Sunday could prove much harder to swallow.
 
"I don't have expectations to lose two in a row. I'm certainly not used to it," said USA head coach Graham Winkworth. "I've got to do a better job of getting these girls motivated. North Florida is a team that is aggressive, though not as naturally talented as our opponent on Friday, but we did not play our style of soccer today."
 
North Florida (3-5-2) substitute Thea Linkfield gave the Ospreys their winning margin eight minutes from the halftime whistle when her attempted cross sailed over the head of USA keeper Melissa Drish. The goal was the first of the season for the 2012 All-Atlantic Sun player.
 
USA (7-3-1) created chances against the Ospreys, but failed to convert, despite matching UNF with eight shots on target. The Jaguars forced five corner kicks in the first half – two in a row to open the contest – but could not produce an effort on goal until the 22^nd minute when both Nini Rabsatt-Smith and Kristyn Thacker were denied by UNF keeper Megan Dorsey and her defense.
 
Rabsatt-Smith and Clarissa Hernandez created back-to-back chances with a quarter of an hour remaining in the first half, but Dorsey could not be beaten, the six-foot junior making seven stops on the day.
 
Lauren Allison awoke after the interval to test Dorsey three times in the opening 10 minutes, but the latter resisted for her first shutout of the season.
 
"It's difficult to get a team motivated for two games in one weekend, and we much more prepared for South Florida, a team that will probably go to the NCAA tournament this year," Winkworth added. "But once again, our back line defended admirably. We'll be back in practice this week looking to improve our work rate and creativity for Texas State on Friday."
 
USA will take on the Bobcats to open Sun Belt Conference play this Friday at The Cage at 7 p.m. Friday night will be Kids' Night, courtesy of USA Athletic Marketing. Inflatables will be present on site, where the first 100 fans will be given free Jaguar thunder sticks. The South Alabama women's soccer team will also hold an autograph session postgame.
 
The Cage is located on Old Shell Road, just east of Stanky Field. All home matches throughout the season will be free to all attendees.

Match: USA (7-3-1) vs. North Florida (3-5-2)
Date: September 22, 2013
Competition: Regular Season, Non-conference
Venue: Hodges Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Kickoff: Noon
Attendance: 100
Weather: Cloudy and windy
Scoring Summary:   1   2   F
USA                            0   0    0
UNF                             1   0    1

UNF – Thea Linkfield – 37^th minute

Starting Lineups:
USA : 13-Melissa Drish (GK); 3-Nikki Shirtcliffe; 5-Nini Rabsatt-Smith; 6-Kristyn Thacker; 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

UNF : 1-Megan Dorsey (GK); 3-Alexis Bredeau; 6-Jennifer Marzi; 9-Lanie Keating; 10-Kayla Aritt; 13-Kendall Pollock; 16-Jill Holdsworth; 17-Bri Swift; 18-Gabrielle Liguori; 20-Heather Botelho; 22-Carolina Lencina
Head coach: Linda Hamilton

Stats Summary: USA / UNF
Shots: 14 / 19
Saves: 7 / 8
Offsides: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 9 / 13

Misconduct Summary:
none
 
Officials: 
Head Referee: Dante Buckley
Assistant Referee 1: David Sorrondo
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Flynn

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).