MOBILE, Ala. – Clarissa Hernandez gave University of South Alabama a two-goal lead less than 15 minutes into Friday's contest versus Texas State, but the Bobcats battled back to force overtime at The Cage, each club eventually taking a point away in their Sun Belt Conference start.
 
Halfway through the opening minute, Hernandez powered Lauren Allison's cross through two Bobcat defenders for a quick Jaguar lead, and the senior midfielder doubled the host advantage a quarter of an hour in when her left-footed strike found the upper-90.
 
Texas State leading scorer Lynsey Curry cut the Jag lead in half on the eve of the 20^th minute after going at it alone through the heart of USA's defense, finally firing into the top left of the goal frame after winning a scramble in the South Alabama area.
 
Maddie Nichols knotted scoring six minutes from the final whistle to force the match to extra time. Each team made a go of it in over time, USA taking advantage in opportunities, 3-2, but to no avail, as the Jaguars and Bobcats each split a point in their league openers.
 
Melissa Drish made 10 saves on the night, while Bobcat keeper Natalie Gardini made 11. USA took the advantage in shots, 25-22, and corners, 11-8. Allison was credited with two assists Friday to extend her team-leading total to seven. Hernandez's goals were her third and fourth of the year.
 
USA will remain idle on Sunday and will hit the road next weekend to face UALR and Arkansas State.

Match: USA (7-3-2) vs. Texas State (3-5-2)
Date: September 27, 2013
Competition: Regular Season, Sun Belt Conference
Venue: The Cage (Mobile, Ala.)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: 243
Weather: 82 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary:   1   2   OT    2OT    F
USA                            2   0    0       0        0
TS                               1   1    0       0        0
 
USA – Clarissa Hernandez (Lauren Allison) – 1^st minute
USA – Clarissa Hernandez (Allison; Nini Rabsatt-Smith) – 14^th minute
TS – Lynsey Curry (Kristen Champion) – 20^th minute
TS – Maddie Nichols – 84^th 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; 22-Shelby Owen; 23-Morgan Motes; 24-Jess Oram; 26-Rylee Hart
Head Coach: Graham Winkworth

TS : 1-Natalie Gardini (GK); 3-Brenna Smith; 4-Lynsey Curry; 11-Sydney Curry; 12-Landry Lowe; 14-Ali Jones; 15-Maddie Nichols; 16-Tori Hale; 17-Kristen Champion; 19-Gabbi Cottee; 23-Ashley Jackson
Head coach: Kat Conner

Stats Summary: USA / TS
Shots: 25 / 22
Saves: 10 / 11
Offsides: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 11 / 8
Fouls: 12 / 9

Misconduct Summary:
none
 
Officials: 
Head Referee: Uwe Tittle
Assistant Referee 1: Thai Huynh
Assistant Referee 2: Erin Plitsch
Alternate Official: Dino Andrianopolous

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).