LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An early goal from University of South Alabama soccer sophomore Hannah Godfrey (Thornton-Cleveleys, England) was the only score of the match, and the Jaguar defense recorded yet another clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Little Rock Sunday afternoon.

The Jags win their sixth in a row – all via shutout – and move to 8-2-1 overall on the year and 3-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans fall to 6-6 and 1-3.

"I thought the game started extremely well for us," USA head coach Graham Winkworth said. "In the first 25 minutes or so, we completely controlled it and moved the ball around extremely well, our movement off the ball was fantastic, we created a couple of good chances and were clinical on a set piece. But then I felt like we slowed the game down a little too much and allowed Little Rock back into the match somewhat. We got a little sloppy on defense. Fortunately, we were resilient enough to hold on and win the game."

Godfrey headed home a corner from sophomore Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England) at 10:32. Purfield lifted her kick into the six-yard box and Godfrey deflected it in for her first goal of the season.

"That was good," Winkworth said. "Hannah got up well. She was man-marked on the corner kick, so she outjumped her defender and powered it home. I'm really happy that she managed to get herself on the scoresheet. She deserved that one because she's been playing so well at the back."

South Alabama extended their school-record clean sheet streak to six, holding Little Rock to eight shots total and just two on net. Freshman Justice Stanford (The Colony, Texas), in goal for all six consecutive shutouts, made two saves.

"I thought we were pretty solid," Winkworth stated. "We switched off mentally a few times in the game and allowed them to have a couple of decent opportunities. We have make sure that we maintain a high level of professionalism defensively as a team that we've shown up to this point. We were OK, but we know that we can play better defensively than we have done today."

Offensively, the Jaguars recorded 12 shots – seven on target – and had 12 corners to the Trojans' one. Purfield and junior Rio Hardy (Workington, England) had three shots and two shots on goal apiece. Hardy also hit the post in the 16th minute.

"I've been a little disappointed with our play in the final third," Winkworth said. "We have to work a little harder off the ball, but I also understand that it is extremely difficult when teams park the bus in front of the goal. It is tough to play against but at the same time we're getting used to that now and the more teams we play that do it, the better we'll become at playing against it.

"But I didn't feel like the result was really ever in too much question."

South Alabama completes its three-match road trip on Friday against Louisiana-Monroe at 4 p.m.

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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