MOBILE, Ala. – Courtney Schell's goal midway through the second overtime was the difference in Auburn's 1-0 victory over the University of South Alabama soccer team Sunday night at The Cage.

The Tigers earn their first win of the season and even their record at 1-1, while the Jaguars fall to 0-1-1.

South Alabama was forced to play the last 26:02 with just 10 players after a red card.

"I asked for 11 heroes tonight and I got them," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "The girls were fantastic. When we went down to 10, I asked for an extra 10 percent from everybody and they gave it. The woodwork hasn't been our friend this weekend.

"If we play like we've done the last two games, then I think we'll have a better season than we did last year. We've been unbelievable all weekend, we just haven't had any luck whatsoever. I know you make your own luck in many ways, but not this weekend. We've just had lady luck go against us."

Schell's golden goal came at the 106:31 mark. Brooke Ramsier sent in a free kick to the USA penalty area and it was flicked on by Casie Ramsier to Schell, who put it past Jaguar senior Sarah Hay (Waxahatchie, Texas).

Auburn had a narrow 22-17 edge in shots, but put 13 of its attempts on target, compared to just five for South Alabama. The Tigers put five on goal in overtime alone.

"Defensively the whole team has been fantastic all weekend," Winkworth said. "We defended with 11, we defended with 10 against two of the best teams in the Southeast Region, and we should've come away with at least one victory from these two games. We hit the woodwork so many times."

USA had several chances in the first overtime period but was unable to dent the net. On a corner kick, sophomore Hannah Godfrey (Thornton-Cleveleys, England) and junior Rio Hardy (Workington, England) had two point-blank shots in the penalty area blocked before they got to the Auburn keeper, and freshman Jana Loeber (Hoffheim, Germany) hit the post on a free kick with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period.

The Jags put a couple of shots wide early in the second overtime but the Tigers had the final two attempts, including Schell's match winner.

"It's very difficult when you've played 110 minutes on a Friday night to ask 10 players to go 110 minutes again and get a result against No. 12 in the nation," Winkworth said. "We were inches away from doing that tonight."

Hay made 12 saves to tie her career high. Sarah Le Beau went the distance for Auburn and had five stops.

The Jaguars head to Troy next weekend for a pair of matches, starting Friday against Jacksonville State.

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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