Date: 8/12
Positions: Defender

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Steffi Hardy, Jr. (23 GP, 23 GS, 6 G, 2 A, 14 pts), Jemma Purfield, So. (23 GP, 23 GS, 3 G, 11 A, 17 pts), Nikki Shirtcliffe, Sr. (20 GP, 3 GS, 0 G, 2 A, 2 pts), Emily Farrell, Sr. (13 GP, 3 GS, 0 G, 1 A, 1 pt), Hannah Godfrey, So. (19 GP, 6 GS, 2 G, 0 A, 4 pts); Maggie Pierce, So. (4 GP, 0 GS, 0 G, 0 A, 0 pts)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Nini Rabsatt-Smith, Sr. (23 GP, 22 GS, 5 G, 3 A, 13 pts), Alyssa Mayer, Sr. (15 GP, 5 GS, 0 G, 0 A, 1 pt); Hannah Evans, Fr. (4 GP, 0 GS, 0 G, 0 A, 0 pts)

Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): Alexis Jordan (Fr., Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite HS), Audrey Duren (So., Semmes, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery HS – redshirted), Jana Loeber (Fr., Hofheim, Germany)

Miscellaneous Notes
- South Alabama has won the last two Sun Belt Defensive Players of the Year (Rabsatt-Smith, Hardy)
- Two of the team's top six scorers last were defenders – Hardy had six goals and 14 points from her center back position, and Purfield was second in the league with 11 assists, and added three goals for 17 points
- Purfield's 11 helpers are tied for fifth in school history
- The Jaguars have totaled 22 shutouts the last two years, including 10 in 2015, tied for the best in the conference
- The defense must replace two starters after the graduation of Rabsatt-Smith and Mayer

Graham Winkworth
- On the role Steffi and Jemma will play in breaking in new players on defense: "They're very important. Jemma is the ultimate professional. She wants to play at the next level and she conducts herself in a manner that reflects that. She's an excellent leader by example and vocally. Steffi obviously has a lot of experience playing back there and has been successful. Those are two are very important players as they return from last year's starting lineup."
- On what more they can do this year: "For me, and I think those two would agree, it's not about individual accolades. For them, it's about helping the defense concede less goals, and helping the defense win more games, win more important games and be competitive in big games, especially as we play such a tough schedule. Those awards are very nice for them, and I'm very proud for them, but the most important thing is making sure they help the less-experienced players settle quickly so we can be successful and not have a dropoff from last season."
- On his expectations for the defense: "If we manage to achieve the same defensive record as we did last year, then we've done extremely well. I say that because we're playing a different schedule. Some teams like to compare the number of shutouts and things like that, but we play an extremely competitive schedule, so I don't really focus on that sort of stuff. It will be great if we shut more teams out, but our style of play is pretty exciting and open, so it puts a lot of pressure on the defenders at times. They've handled it extremely well and if we get more shutouts along the way it will be an added bonus."

Jemma Purfield
- On being named team co-captain as a sophomore: "It means a lot; it's a real honor, but I feel like it doesn't change anything. Every player on our team is like a leader, but it's nice to be recognized and to be given this opportunity. It's one that I'm proud of. I'll keep doing what I did to get it and act the same way the always would."
- On evaluating her freshman season: "It was a brilliant year for me and one that I really enjoyed. It was an honor to receive that award and nice to get the recognition, but I definitely think I can push on from where I was last year. It was a great season, don't get me wrong, but I feel like I can have an even better season this year. With all the hard work we're putting in, I think it can be a better year."
- On the pressure that comes from having an award-winning year: "I'm just going to do everything I did last year and hopefully more. That's all I can do, as long as I give my best in every game. I don't think there's any added pressure. As a team, we're a bit more known now, it's just about working harder and getting better every time, and I think we're doing that."

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