MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama freshman Chardé Hannah (Tupelo, Miss.) scored two late goals to extend the Jaguars' unbeaten streak to a school-record 12 with a 2-0 victory Friday night over Georgia Southern at The Cage.

The Jags maintain their lead at the top of the Sun Belt Conference standings with a 5-0-1 record for 16 points, and hold a 13-2-1 record overall. The Eagles fall to 9-4-1 and 4-2.

"Right now with all of these teams beating each other in the league, all we can do is focus on ourselves and I'm pleased we got the result," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I thought the first half, even though we went in 0-0, was probably better from a playing standpoint than the second, but at the same time, we got the result and I'm proud of the girls for digging in.

"Often things open up in the second half when teams make adjustments. (Georgia Southern) coach (Brian) Dunleavy is a very good coach—he made some adjustments and we made some adjustments so the game opens up a little bit. At the same time, as it opens up for them, it opens up for us as well, and fortunately we were able to put a couple in the net."

Hannah tallied her Sun Belt-best 15th and 16th goals of the season in the 85th and 90th minutes, respectively. Her goals total is tied for second in school history and her 38 points are fifth-best in school history.

"Chardé is a top striker and she's going to continue to score goals," Winkworth said. "This wasn't one of her better games; we've seen her do everything on occasions and today, even when she's not on top of her form, she still put the ball in the back of the net. It just shows what quality and hard work do, and she's got both of those things."

On her first goal, Hannah took advantage of a short pass back to the goalkeeper, took control of the loose ball after the challenge and put the ball into the empty net. Her second goal came via a pass from freshman Rio Hardy (Workington, England) after the pair played a 1-2 outside the box and Hannah took the it rest of the way.

After an 11-1 shots advantage for South Alabama in the first half, it was 8-8 in the second with Georgia Southern taking four of the first six with a pair of corner kicks after halftime.

"We started the second half a little light and we weren't putting in the first and second balls that we had done in the first half and we gave them a little bit of momentum," Winkworth noted. "Towards the end I thought we battled a bit more and sometimes it's not pretty; sometimes you have to win games with passion and hard work, and we showed that towards the end."

Sophomore Sarah Hay (Waxahachie, Texas) went the distance in goal for the Jags, making three saves for her seventh shutout of the year and the team's ninth. Both totals are best in the league.

GS's Katie Merson had seven stops and allowed both goals.

South Alabama wraps up its 2014 home schedule Sunday against Georgia State at 1 p.m.

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—