LAFAYETTE, La. – University of South Alabama senior Rio Hardy tied a school record with her 12th career game-winning goal, and added an assist to give the Jaguars a 2-1 comeback win over Louisiana Friday night at the Ragin' Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility.

The Jags go to 9-5-1 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Cajuns fall to 5-9-2 and 2-5-2.

GAME FACTS
- South Alabama held a 21-9 edge in shots, including 8-3 in shots on goal, and outshot Louisiana 12-2 after intermission
- LA's Ashleigh Cade wasted little time getting the Cajuns on the board, blasting a low shot from about 20 yards out at 6:48
- Senior Danielle Henley was left open in the box at 19:02 and forced LA goalkeeper Victoria Ryan to go the ground to make the stop
- The Jaguars knotted the score at 1-1 midway through the first half when senior Tiina Trutsi's corner was headed by Hardy back across the goal to senior Chelsea Followwell, whose own headed attempt hit the underside of the crossbar
- Ten minutes later, Hardy put the Jags up on a header eight yards out off a cross from freshman Selma Björgvinsdóttir at the 33:39 mark
- Trutsi almost added to the Jaguars' lead at 37:04 but her wide-open half-volley from six yards out went over the bar
- Senior Steffi Hardy helped maintain South Alabama's advantage by clearing a Louisiana attempt off the line in the 39th minute
- Shortly after the start of the second half, junior Hannah Godfrey went high from short range after a Jaguar corner kick
- Louisiana had its best chance to equalize in the 87th minute but Erika Sierra's shot from two yards out was blocked off the line by Godfrey
- Ryan made six stops for the Cajuns, while Jaguar sophomore Justice Stanford was not credited with a save

NOTES
- The Jaguars stay three points behind Texas State in the race for the Sun Belt title; the two schools will meet Sunday in San Marcos, and the Jags have a game in hand
- Hardy is tied with USA Hall of Famer Cindy Rainville (1998-01) with 12 game-winning goals
- Hardy is already in second place in school history by herself with 37 goals and 88 points
- USA is 6-1-2 all-time against LA in Lafayette
- South Alabama has won its last four games on the road after starting out 0-2-1
- The Jaguars have outshot their opponent 12 times in their last 13 outings
- South Alabama is 6-1 in its last seven games decided by one goal
- The Jaguars are 36-6-2 in conference games in the last five seasons
- Friday marked the sixth consecutive game the Jags recorded multiple goals against the Cajuns

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "It was senior night for them and they came out flying. The first 10 minutes they got a goal and we weren't ready. We made some adjustments right away tactically, the game shifted, we got a goal, and 10 minutes later we got a second. I felt like the game opened up from there. They got some chances, but we had the better ones. If we could finish chances, a lot of these scorelines wouldn't be as close as what they have been."

On dominating the second half: "The second goal, I think, deflated them a little. When they got the first goal, I was expecting more energy from them, but they sat back. When we got the first goal, they were still in the game, but the second goal changed everything. We have too many good players to not be able to get a hold of the ball and move it well. We had good players on the ball and we moved it well. If we could just finish chances we'll be dangerous. I don't think we'll get as many chances on Sunday, but the ones we do get, we need to put them in the back of the net."

On Rio Hardy's performance: "She was fantastic. She was fading in and out of the game, and we tried to tell her to pick her moments when she worked and to stay central. She's so tall and has such a huge impact on the game when she stays central. When she starts running out into the channels, she's not as effective. She stayed central, the cross came in and she was on the end of a header. When she stays central and we try to play out of the back, and we have to go more direct when we're under pressure, she holds the ball up so well for us. Rio is putting in some great performances and is a huge asset to this team. She's one of the players we'll look to on Sunday. Her mentality is fantastic – it's all about the team."

On the confidence of the team to come back on the road: "It was a bit of a test, and when we went down, it was such a high-intensity game for them and we couldn't get out of it. A tactical adjustment changed the game. But it's great to see us come back from a goal down. It speaks volumes of the team and what they're there for. Now we get the chance to play for something on Sunday."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars wrap up their road schedule Sunday against league-leading Texas State on Sunday at 1 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).

Join the Upper 90 Club, the soccer specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All gifts to the Upper 90 Club go directly to support the South Alabama soccer program.  For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/upper90

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