Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama freshmen Chardé Hannah (Tupelo, Miss.) and Rio Hardy (Workington, England) scored and assisted on each other's goals to give the University of South Alabama soccer team a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville State in an exhibition Friday night at The Cage.

The match is USA's lone preseason contest before the 2014 campaign begins in earnest Aug. 22 against UAB.

"We looked like we just met each other nine days ago," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said of the team's performance. "I'm happy about certain things: I felt we created one or two partnerships that are starting to show. We were a little slow with our ball movement, but we've only met nine days ago. Last season we played poorly in a preseason game—won 2-1—and played the same team in the spring and beat them 9-nil. We just need time to get to know each other so we can move the ball around and be more effective."

The two newcomers, seeing their first action against collegiate competition, paired up to put the Jaguars in the lead early, then paired up five minutes after Jacksonville State equalized midway through the second half.

"I felt (Chardé) did a good job physically and is starting to get more match fit," Winkworth said. "Rio, I thought, did an excellent job holding the ball up as well and bringing other players into play. They combined, obviously, for both goals so hopefully that's something that can happen on a regular basis and they can start scoring goals for this club."

Hannah got USA going at the 13:30 mark when she received a pass from Hardy at the top of the box, cut inside and fired a shot into the back of the net.

"It was a great strike," Winkworth said. "Rio did a good job passing off to her and she took a touch and hit it. I think it'd still be traveling now if the net wasn't there to stop it."

Hardy was on the receiving end of a pass from Hannah in the 69th minute on the match winner. Hannah won a ball and took it down the right side, beat her defender at the byline and passed it to a wide open Hardy in the goal mouth.

"(Chardé) did well to get to the end line and pull it back, and a very composed finish in front of goal; two good finishes."

The Gamecocks knotted the match up at 1-1 at the 64:16 mark. A throw-in behind the defense put Kelsey Bright in loads of space down the right wing, but Bright's shot was parried by USA goalkeeper Courtney Baum (Cumming, Ga.). However, the rebound went straight to Courtney Hurt, who placed the ball in the empty net.

Baum earned the win after playing the final 45 minutes and making one save. Sophomore Sarah Hay (Waxahachie, Texas) played the opening half and made three stops. JSU's Katie Thomas went the distance and was credited with nine saves.

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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