MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team got a brace from sophomore Ashlynn Jones (Pickerington, Ohio) and the defense allowed just five shots in a 5-0 shutout of Little Rock Friday night at The Cage.

The win, the Jaguars' third straight clean sheet, clinches the program's second consecutive outright Sun Belt Conference title with a 14-2-1 overall record and 8-0 in the league. The Trojans, who were unbeaten in their last six matches, drop to 8-6-4 and 3-2-2.

"I'm really proud of the girls," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I thought the whole game, from start to finish, we defended as a team from front to back, phenomenally. I think we really limited Little Rock's chances and I'm really pleased with the girls' efforts.

"In the second half, the game opened up a little bit for us, we got in behind a few times and some fantastic goals were scored tonight."

Little Rock managed just five shots overall and only one found the target. Both totals are tied for the second-fewest by an opponent this season. The Jags won the shooting battle 20-5.

"They played quite deep, particularly in the first half, and relied on the counterattack" Winkworth said. "When you've got some talent like we've got at the back, we managed to handle that pretty well."

The five goals equal the number allowed by Little Rock in league play coming into the match – tied for the best defensive record in the league – and the win is the biggest via shutout since a 9-0 victory over Little Rock in 2012.

Jones recorded her second multi-goal performance of the season and first since a hat trick at Southern Miss on Sept. 20. She got the match-winner at 27:19 when she quickly turned a Little Rock giveaway into a score, then tacked on the Jags' fourth of the night off a through-ball from sophomore Rio Hardy (Workington, England) at 79:31.

"Ashlynn was excellent," Winkworth noted. "On that first goal, I might need to see if we need a new net because I think it might still be traveling through the goal. She had a great game and I'm sure she's excited to get back on the field."

South Alabama went into intermission up 1-0, and it remained that way until the 59:12 mark when sophomore Danielle Henley (Hattiesburg, Miss.) headed home a cross from sophomore Sophie Haywood (Hull, England).

Sophomore Tiina Trutsi (Tallinn, Estonia) assisted on the team's third and fifth goals of the night, finding sophomore Chardé Hannah (Tupelo, Miss.) with a pass in the 66th minute, before hitting freshman Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England) down the left side just over four minutes before the end of regulation.

"We were able to rotate a little bit more," Winkworth said. "We've been short on numbers the last few weeks and that gave us a chance to put in a lot of fresh legs at times. I thought all of our forwards have gone in at different times and done an excellent job, whether they've scored or not. I think everyone has given us some quality minutes today in that part of the field."

USA goalkeeper Sarah Hay (Waxahachie, Texas) made one stop for her sixth clean sheet of the season. LR's Sara Small allowed all five goals and had five saves.

The Jaguars close out the regular season Sunday against Arkansas 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).

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