ATLANTA, Ga. – An early goal from junior Rio Hardy (Workington, England) was the only goal the University of South Alabama soccer team needed in a 2-0 victory over Georgia State Friday at the GSU Soccer Complex.

With the win, the Jaguars improve to 12-4-1 overall and 7-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, two points clear of Coastal Carolina. Both teams have one game to play. The Panthers fall to 5-6-6 and 2-4-4.

"Tonight was one of those games where we didn't really show up and play particularly well, but a sign of a good team is to win games when you're not performing," said USA head coach Graham Winkworth. "We were decent at finding the target. Rio hit a nice one with her left foot, Jemma's emphasized the point that if you hit the target, there's always a chance the ball could go in, and she hit one from range as well.

"We were good in regards to hitting the target, but we didn't have as much rhythm in possession as we do normally. We'll need a little more if we're going to win a championship Sunday against a very strong Appalachian State team that have dominated Louisiana-Lafayette today."

South Alabama has now won three in a row since dropping two straight earlier in the month, and can clinch at least a tie for the league title with a draw on Sunday, and can clinch the championship outright with a victory.

"It's in our control now; I'd rather have it in our control rather than relying on other results," Winkworth stated. "It's important that the girls get fired up for Sunday because it is Appalachian State's Senior Day and they're going to be fighting for their lives as well. It's going to come down to the mentality that the girls have when they enter the match on Sunday."

Hardy's goal came at the 22:35 mark on just the second shot of the game for either team.

"It was good to score a goal early; we weren't creating all that much," Winkworth said. "Georgia State did an excellent job defensively all over the field. They didn't line up as we expected. They did a great job, were well organized and coached, but that early goal settled us down a little bit and we were able to possess the ball.

The two teams combined for just 12 shots total until USA sophomore Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England) put the game away in the 79th minute. It was Purfield's sixth of the season, one shy of Hardy's team-high total of seven.

"They did put us under a little bit of pressure towards the end of the game, but we sat back a little more to protect a two-goal lead, because even if we conceded one, we still had the buffer," Winkworth noted.

Jaguar freshman Justice Stanford (The Colony, Texas) recorded her eighth shutout of the season, making three saves, with two coming in the final four minutes of the contest. Her counterpart, Brie Haynes, allowed both goals with three saves.

"We defended quite well today," Winkworth remarked. "We were a little slow to react in certain areas of the pitch, but all in all, we have defended well this season, and we're going to need that on Sunday because Appalachian State has got a lot of threats going forward."

South Alabama will attempt to win its third straight Sun Belt crown Sunday at Appalachian State. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CDT.

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—