MOBILE, Ala. – Two second-half goals from South Florida rallied the Bulls from an early deficit to defeat the University of South Alabama soccer team 2-1 at the Jaguar Classic Friday night at The Cage.
The loss is the first in the regular season since Aug. 31, 2014, snapping the Jags' 22-match unbeaten streak. USF keeps an unblemished record at 4-0 while USA drops to 4-1. Both teams were receiving votes in the latest NSCAA top 25 poll.
"Congratulations to South Florida, they're a very good team," Jaguar head coach
Graham Winkworth said. "They play a lot on emotion. I felt that they controlled large parts of the game, particularly in the second half. We didn't come out to play in the second half and that's disappointing."
The Bulls scored their goals less than 14 minutes apart and controlled play in the second half, outshooting the Jaguars 13-1 through the first 79 minutes.
"We weren't stepping to win any first balls and we weren't stepping in to win any second balls either," Winkworth stated. "It was coming straight at our backline, we were getting tired and playing deeper and deeper. In the last 15 minutes we came out, pressed them, got the ball forward and did a better job, even when we went down to 10 players.
"Against a side as good as South Florida, we can't give them that much respect when it comes to winning 50-50 challenges.
Leticia Skeete evened the score at 1-1 in the 57th minute off a pass from
Olivia Chance, then
Ocean Parr beat the USA goalkeeper high from about 25 yards out at the 70:25 mark to put the Bulls on top for good.
The Jaguars were able to threaten late, recording the last three shots of the contest, with two on net from sophomore
Ashlynn Jones (Pickerington, Ohio) and freshman
Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England), but could not tie the score.
South Alabama took an early lead off the foot of sophomore
Chardé Hannah (Tupelo, Miss.). Hannah took a pass from sophomore
Danielle Henley (Hattiesburg, Miss.) off a turnover, got past her defender and beat the goalkeeper low from 18 yards out.
"In the first 20 minutes, the girls did exactly what I asked them to do," Winkworth said. "South Florida sent both of their fullbacks high and we hit them on the break on a couple of occasions. The gameplan for the first 20 minutes was perfect and it's a shame we couldn't sustain it for 90."
South Florida outshot South Alabama 27-8 for the contest with a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal.
The Jaguars return to action Sunday afternoon when they host Austin Peay at 2:30 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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