MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama freshman Brenna McPartlan rifled home a free kick in the 59th minute to give the Jaguars a 1-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday night in an exhibition match at The Cage.

USA outshot SELU 17-3, including 12-1 in the second half alone, but were unable to dent the net during the run of play.

GAME FACTS
- The teams combined for just seven shots total in the first half, with three of those hitting the target
- McPartlan almost broke the deadlock nine minutes after halftime, but her shot from distance hit the crossbar and bounced out
- McPartlan's winner came at 58:45, from about 30 yards out; she beat Bailey Scott at the near post
- In the 74th minute, freshman Moa Öhman was almost able to put home a loose ball at the post, but Scott made the save
- Senior Hannah Godfrey got free for a header from 12 yards out on a corner kick, but Scott made a diving save to her right to keep the Lions in the contest
- The Jaguars held a 6-3 advantage on corner kicks, with all six coming after halftime
- Öhman led South Alabama with four shots and two on goal
- Sophomore Laurie Graves picked up the win in goal for the Jags, but was not called on to make a save in her 45 second-half minutes
- Scott made four stops for the Lions, all in the second half

NOTES
- The game was delayed 40 minutes at the start due to lightning in the area
- USA made just one change in its starting XI from Wednesday; freshman Brianna Mascia earned her first start in a Jaguar uniform

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
On improvements from Wednesday: "The girls did well. It's still a young team; we growing. We created a lot of good opportunities. You're in panic mode as a coach if you can't create opportunities. We're creating, we just have to put them away. Briana (Morris) running right through the heart of the defense and pulling it wide sums up the last two games. We just have to learn how to finish our chances. That'll come with time."

On the defensive effort: "The back four plus the sixth in front were really good. We're still having a hard time understanding the bank of four in the midfield and their roles and responsibilities. Once we get it figured out, we'll be good. We got pulled apart and had to change personnel too many times. If we can find the right girls willing to do the legwork, we'll be good. All in all defensively, two games and not conceding a goal, it's always good, but now we have to one-up it again to go to Birmingham."

On McPartlan's performance: "She is a great player and when she can get higher, she becomes very dangerous because she has a great strike from outside, and she has the ability to connect the midfield third to the final third. We were trying to get her to play higher; it seems that when she gets on the ball, she's sitting deep. It's good, but when we get her higher, she's way more dangerous. It's great to score off a set piece; that's two in two games. If you can stay in a game defensively and it's nil-nil, you need something like that to win a game."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars officially open the 2018 season on Aug. 17 at UAB. Kickoff is set for 7 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

—USA—