Date: 8/14
Position: Forward

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Ana Helmert, So. (21 GP, 10 GS, 4 G, 2 A, 10 pts); Deanna Green, So. (20 GP, 17 GS, 0 G, 2 A, 2 pts); Kory Dixon, Jr. (20 GP, 14 GS, 5 G, 2 A, 12 pts); Briana Morris, Jr. (20 GP, 0 GS, 2 G, 0 A, 4 pts); Abi Mills, So. (8 GP, 0 GS, 0 G, 0 A, 0 pts)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Chardé Hannah (8 GP, 1 GS, 0 G, 1 A, 1 pt); Rio Hardy (21 GP, 21 GS, 16 G, 5 A, 37 pts)

Newcomers (Yr., Hometown/Previous school): Brianna Mascia (Fr., Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada/Cardinal Newman Catholic); Morgan Cross (Fr., Dunfermline, Scotland/Inverkeithing HS); Faith Webber (Fr., San Angelo, Texas/Homeschooled); Jess Garey (Fr., Miramar Beach, Fla./Collegiate High School at NW Florida State)

Miscellaneous Notes
- Dixon is the team's top returning scorer; four of her five goals came in the last two weeks of the season, including three in the Sun Belt Tournament
- Dixon had two game-winning goals: vs. Appalachian State in overtime, and in a 1-0 victory to win the Sun Belt regular-season title vs. Little Rock
- Dixon was voted the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
- Helmert scored a brace in a 3-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana last season, and added two more goals in the conference tournament
- Green will be moving to forward after spending last season at outside back
- Mascia scored in USA's exhibition win vs. Alabama A&M
- Hardy led the conference in goals and points, and was the league's offensive player of the year; she ended her career second at South Alabama in both goals (43) and points (103)

Richard Moodie
- On getting better finishing once the season starts: "It's about practice. Girls just need to spend time on it. This time last year, we were struggling. Rio Hardy wasn't starting or scoring goals, and we challenged them; who was going to be the one to step up? We challenged them constantly for someone who was going to step up and score the goals in the absence of someone who left for Arizona State. Rio took it personally and she delivered. The time will come where someone will say, I'm going to take it on. I think we have multiple players like that here. It's just getting that confidence and getting that first one. I'm more worried if we're not creating chances. Against Southeastern Louisiana, we created a lot of chances, we were one-on-one with the goalkeepers and we got the ball wide. This team is young, and we can keep them together for a long time. If they can get on the same page, we've got the quality."
- On expectations for Helmert: "We've sat and talked with her at length about filling the void of Rio Hardy. She's strong, aggressive and fitter now than she ever has been, and she's way more confident. She does have the ability to win games for us and create opportunities for other people. She's just so forward thinking; everything she does is going forward. If she gives the ball away, she wants it back. Every pass she wants to make is forward; it's never lateral or negative. Our expectations of her are very high. For a kid that didn't play that much last season, it speaks volumes of what she did in the spring to earn that respect from the coaches and the team. She takes it as a challenge; I don't think she sees it as pressure. She just needs to be patient. The goals will come."
- On progress of newcomers: "We haven't had a lot of goals yet, but Brianna Mascia's first touch in a game was a goal, and Morgan Cross got through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. For a team that's played two games and has been together for less than two weeks, it's crazy how they can play off each other. That's what happens when you have good players. We have good players from multiple countries, and now the common language has to be soccer, but soccer the way we want them to play. When we get into the final third, we want players to express their creativity and I think we have those players in Morgan Cross, Brianna Mascia, Brianna Morris, Moa Öhman or Ana Helmert. We've started to get a really good understanding and there will be a lot of focus going into the UAB game of that relationship between the front five. Last year, if you keep one player quiet, you have a chance to beat South Alabama. This year, I think you have multiple players to try and keep quiet. They have to find the back of the net, but once it comes, I think we'll get goals in abundance."

Ana Helmert
- On being the veteran of the group as a sophomore: "I think it's a good challenge and a different way to look at things for the year. Last year I learned a lot about myself mentally and physically. I grew a lot as a soccer player and learned what it takes to play at this level. The biggest thing this year is finding leadership as a sophomore and figuring out ways to teach the younger players how to lead the team. With my previous experiences of being the captain of a team, it's not that big of a deal, but it's different at this level."
- On team having multiple players that can score goals: "I think it's a bigger advantage. If you have girls that can come on and score goals, it gives us the advantage that you're not always relying on one girl to score all of them. It's definitely a good thing."
- On her goals for this season: "As a team, I want us to make it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That's always our goal every year because we always get to (the first round) and then we can't get past it. For me personally, figuring out ways to score goals and how to lead the team. Other goals are developing more as a soccer player. I don't think there's ever a point where you're content."

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