LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The University of South Alabama soccer team became the first Sun Belt Conference team to finish unbeaten in the league in four years after defeating Arkansas-Little Rock 2-1 Sunday at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex.

The last Sun Belt team to go through the league schedule without a loss was Denver in 2010. The Jaguars are just the second school to go unbeaten in the SBC; Denver accomplished the feat three times before leaving the conference in 2012.

South Alabama ends the regular season with a 16-2-1 overall record and an 8-0-1 mark in the conference, and has not lost in its last 15 outings. UALR falls to 11-7-1 and 2-6-1.

The Jaguars got first-half goals from junior Nini Rabsatt-Smith (Montgomery, Ala.) and freshman Rio Hardy (Workington, England); the second one broke a 1-1 tie just over four minutes after the Trojans equalized.

"Obviously it was a very close game, just as the statistics would suggest," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "A lot of credit to Arkansas-Little Rock, they played very well and gave us everything we could handle. I'm happy to pick up a win on the road; every time you travel in this conference there's not such a thing as an easy game and Little Rock proved that again today.

"It was not just about South Alabama today; we worked hard all season long against every one of our opponents, and you don't want your integrity challenged by the teams you've already played, so it was important that we gave everything we could to get a positive result today. I was really proud of the girls' character; they could have taken their foot off the gas but didn't, and that speaks volumes of this group."

South Alabama commences the Sun Belt Tournament Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. against Arkansas-Little Rock. This time, the rematch will be held at The Cage.

"UALR is a very well-coached team," Winkworth stated. "Coach (Adrian) Blewitt does a great job and has excellent players. We know there isn't a lot of difference between whoever we'd play. The Sun Belt is a harder league than it was last year, so there isn't a thing as an easy game in this conference and we're happy to have a good regular season. We have to refocus this week and put together three more good games."

Both teams recorded 16 shots—nine in the first half and seven in the second—while the Jags put eight on goal to the Trojans' six.

USA got on the board early, after taking advantage of a UALR miscue. Rabsatt-Smith pounced on a bad back pass to the goalkeeper and put it in the back of the net at 6:22.

"Nini got on the outside, picked up the ball and cut inside and put a very composed finish in," Winkworth said. "It was an excellent finish."

The Trojans tied the match at 1-1 on a goal from Fali Garuba at 33:05, but four minutes later, a shot from freshman Chardé Hannah (Tupelo, Miss.) was saved by the Trojan goalkeeper, but the rebound went to Hardy, who headed it home.

"It's important to attack with numbers and not just one player," Winkworth noted. "Chardé had a good effort saved by the keeper and Rio was there to knock it into an empty net. Rio has done an excellent job of not only scoring goals, but also creating goals for other players on the team as well."

Sophomore Sarah Hay (Waxahachie, Texas) made five saves in net for the Jaguars and allowed one goal.

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).

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