TROY, Ala. – Junior Rio Hardy (Workington, England) had a pair of goals and the University of South Alabama soccer team earned its first win of the 2016 season with a 4-1 defeat of Jacksonville State Friday afternoon at the Troy Soccer Complex.

The Jaguars, which picked up a draw against Samford last Friday and lost to then-No. 12 Auburn 1-0 in double overtime, even their record at 1-1-1. The Gamecocks fall to 1-2.

"From a performance standpoint, I thought we played better last weekend than we did today," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I am happy that we got our first goal and victory of the season for sure, but performance-wise we looked a little tired and didn't move the ball around quite as well as we'd done the previous weekend.

"It's important that we showed the depth of our squad today because it felt about 96 degrees out there, so it was important that we were able to rest some players and that some of our new faces got a chance to play their first collegiate soccer in a game like this. If they have to go in at any point of the season, it won't be their first time to go in, so this weekend is a great opportunity to rotate our squad and show we're not just 11 players, we've got quality and depth."

Hardy recorded her third career brace, and first since 2014. She scored on a header at 9:29 to double the Jags' lead to 2-0, then finished off the scoring with just over five minutes left in regulation off a pass from junior Chelsea Followwell (Sachse, Texas).

"On the first one she used her striker's instinct and was in the right place off a little bit of a scramble in the box," Winkworth noted. "But her second one was a well-timed run and an excellent header off a cross by Chelsea, which basically killed the game."

USA found the back of the net early, starting just six minutes into the contest. Junior Danielle Henley (Hattiesburg, Miss.) converted from just outside the penalty area for the team's first goal of the year, and Hardy followed with her opening goal under four minutes later.

"Scoring an early goal was very important today; it settled the team down," Winkworth said. "It was a nice strike from Danielle."

It took over an hour for the Jaguars to strike again when sophomore Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England) hit from the top-left corner of the box from sophomore Caroline Torrens (Pace, Fla.) at 72:18.

The Gamecocks' Mackenzie Bellows converted a penalty kick less than a minute later to pull within two goals, but Hardy finished it off for the 4-1 final.

South Alabama put nine of its 17 attempts on target, led by Hardy's four, and outshot Jacksonville State 17-8 overall. Four of the Jags' five shots in the first half were on goal.

"In the first half we were very clinical," Winkworth said. "We didn't create as many chances because the game was tighter, but the chances we did create were good ones. In the second half, we weren't as clinical in front of goal, but we were very efficient in the first half."

Senior Sarah Hay (Waxahatchie, Texas) made three saves for the Jaguars, while her counterpart, Caroline Robinson had four stops.
    
South Alabama returns to the field Sunday when it faces Belmont at noon.

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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