AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn scored three second-half goals to defeat the University of South Alabama soccer team 4-0 Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Auburn Soccer Complex.

The fourth-seeded Tigers advance to the round of 32 with a 15-6 record and will play either Albany or UConn next week. The Jaguars end their season at 15-6-1.

"It's been a tough season," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "We have had some adversity. In the middle of the year, we lost games that we would normally expect to win. I want to praise the character of my players and the way that we managed to fight back during the season and postseason to get ourselves here today. Unfortunately, I was not able to prepare the girls well enough and create the right mindset coming in here to Auburn."

Brooke Ramsier recorded a brace for the Tigers, and Casie Ramsier added a goal and an assist, including the game winner late in the first half. Haley Gerken also found the net.

Casie Ramsier's goal, a tap-in after a shot by Kristen Dodson hit the post, came at the 43:04 mark, breaking a scoreless deadlock.

Despite just the one goal, Auburn controlled play in the first half, outshooting South Alabama 10-0.

It took less than eight minutes after intermission for the Tigers to double their advantage. Casie Ramsier found Gerkan at 52:43 for a shot outside the box into the upper corner of the net.

Brooke Ramsier put the game away with goals in the 62nd and 78th minutes, the final one coming on a direct kick from 25 yards out.

Auburn held an 18-1 advantage in shots, with nine on goal, and had eight corner kicks to South Alabama's one.

"It wasn't as good a game as I was hoping, but give credit to Auburn," Winkworth said. "They are a fantastic team and well-coached. They played exceptionally well, and if they play like that against anybody in the country, they are going to have an opportunity to go the rest of this tournament. Credit to Coach (Karen) Hoppa, their staff and players."

Freshman Justice Stanford (The Colony, Texas) played 82:28 in net for the Jags and allowed all four goals with five saves. Senior Sarah Hay (Waxahatchie, Texas) went the final 7:32 but did not record a save. Auburn's Sarah LeBeau had one stop in 90 minutes.

Earlier this month, the Jaguars became the second team in Sun Belt Conference history to win four straight tournament titles, and won the school's third straight league double.

"It was great to make it here, especially because we had a lot of ups and downs this season," USA sophomore Jemma Purfield said. "The fact that there were those types of things going through the team, we were able to work together and that is what got us here. We had a lot to do here, but it wasn't what we wanted."

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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