TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State's Megan Connolly recorded a first-half brace and the 15th-ranked Seminoles survived a late charge from the University of South Alabama soccer team in a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

Jaguar senior Chelsea Followwell pulled one back in the second half to lead the comeback that fell just short.

GAME FACTS
-Both of Connolly's goals were short-range efforts – she hit the back of the net at 13:52 on assists from Kaycie Tillman and Bella Dorosy, then doubled the advantage at 38:38 from Emma Koivisto and Emily Madril
-Followwell's goal came on a breakaway in the 60th minute
-FSU recorded 13 unanswered shots – including both of Connolly's goals – after USA senior Rio Hardy tallied the first shot of the contest
-South Alabama had four consecutive shots over a four-minute period in the second half, capped off by Followwell's goal at the 59:35 mark, but managed just one more shot the rest of the way
-The Seminoles held a 21-7 advantage in shots, but only put seven on target, while the Jaguars put four of their seven attempts on net
-Shots were 10-1 FSU in the first half and 11-6 FSU in the second
-Sophomore Justice Stanford, who set a career high last season vs. FSU in saves with eight, made five stops; her counterpart, Cassie Miller, made three saves

NOTES
-Followwell's goal was the ninth of her career, and first since Sept. 18, 2016 against Georgia Southern
-South Alabama is 0-2 to start a season for the first time since 2010
-USA played ranked opponents in back-to-back games for second time in school history, and first since 2002
-Florida State leads the series 9-1
-Sunday marked USA's first regular-season trip to Tallahassee since 2009 – the meetings in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were all in the NCAA Tournament
-The Jags scored in Tallahassee for the first time since 1999

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts on the game: "It's not a good result because we didn't win, but I think it's a respectable result considering we took on the Nos. 10 and 15 teams back to back in the same weekend. It was a fair result, perhaps, based on the number of shots and the pressure they put on us. I think we kept them quiet and frustrated them, and I think they were lucky the game ended when it did because I think we could have come back. I'm proud of the girls' efforts, 100 percent. They never gave up and they kept working."

On the differences between the second half and first half: "We were trying to get it to where the game was going to open up, to where we were able to play a little more and not be down a goal or two like we were at Auburn. I thought we did a good job of doing that in the first half, then they scored a couple. It's almost nervy right now for the girls, trying to get into the game. Once we relaxed and settled, we were good. It was a much more relaxed performance from the girls and they were focused. There was no halftime speech to motivate them; we told them to get the first goal and go from there. Once we got it, I thought could have maybe pushed and had another chance, and the game ended with them running the ball into the corners and I think that's a sign of respect."

On Followwell's goal: "Chelsea had been out of the game with a pretty severe injury and we were going to keep her out of the game, but she said she wanted to go back in. That says it all about her mentality and attitude. The ball broke loose for her, and Chelsea, from that range, was able to punish them. It was a great strike and a fantastic goal – she deserved it."

On Florida State's two goals: "It was a different story than the Auburn game – I thought we did a good job marking and pressing around the (penalty) area. We didn't allow shots from that 30-35 yard range, and if we did, there was a blue shirt in front of it. I don't think we were giving away the right to the players to just aim and fire. We struggled to clear the first ball and weren't in a good position to get the second ball, and they just kept applying pressure. That's the story of how the goals came about. They pressed and pressed, got in a few crosses, we weren't able to clear our line and it dropped right to them. I think we could've done a better job of clearing the ball, but good players in that position are going to score goals."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars open their home schedule next Sunday vs. Murray State 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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