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Brenna McPartlan
Scott Donaldson

Women's Soccer

JAGUAR SOCCER POSITION PREVIEW – MIDFIELDER

Date: 8/15
Position: Midfielder

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats)
: Audrey Duren, Jr. (6 GP, 0 GS, 1 G, 1 A, 3 pts), Julianna Abrams, So. (16 GP, 1 GS, 0 G, 0 A, 0 pts)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Chelsea Followwell (20 GP, 20 GS, 2 G, 5 A, 9 pts), Danielle Henley (21 GP, 20 GS, 4 G, 1 A, 9 pts), Tiina Trutsi (21 GP, 19 GS, 4 G, 4 A, 12 pts), Caroline Torrens (8 GP, 0 GS, 0 G, 0 A, 0 pts); Selma Björgvinsdóttir (20 GP, 17 GS, 0 G, 2 A, 2 pts)
 
Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): Brenna McPartlan (Fr., Lancashire, England/St. Bede's HS); Helene Schjelderup (Fr., Bodø, Norway/Dragonskolans Elitidrottsgymnasium); Ellie Kane (Fr., Stirling, Scotland/St. Modan's HS); McKenzie Nowin (Fr., Fayetteville, Tenn./Westminster Christian Academy); Moa Öhman (Kalix, Sweden/Hedgårdsvägen 13)

Miscellaneous Notes
- South Alabama loses all three starting midfielders from a season ago, including Followwell and Henley, who combined for 174 appearances, 33 goals, 30 assists and six all-conference nods in their careers
- Duren is moving to midfielder from defender
- McPartlan accounted for the Jaguars' lone goal on a free kick in the exhibition win over Southeastern Louisiana, and hit the crossbar during the run of play moments before that
- Björgvinsdóttir was a Second-Team all-Sun Belt pick as a freshman in 2017

Richard Moodie
- On the working with almost all freshmen in the midfield: "It's been fun and exciting. We've got lots of possibilities every day in practice. It really is a close call for who is going to start and play. This week is a good opportunity for us to look at things. We're still trying to figure out our best combination, whether that's two, three or four in the midfield. We have lots of options; we just have to get it right by Friday."
- On how he thought they played during the preseason: "That's an area where we've struggled – trying to build through the midfield. We've done an exceptional job of playing out the back. We work the ball into the midfield, but then we get lost in what we're trying to do. It doesn't help that we're rotating players all the time throughout the exhibitions, but such is life; we want to give the student-athletes an opportunity. We're fighting for that consistency, and even when we rotate, we shouldn't drop off a level. We can still sustain the game model and what we're trying to do."
- On where Julianna Abrams fits in: "She's a great player for us. The idea there, and we've had to tell her, is don't look at the starting lineups too much. She had an exceptional spring. She understands what we're asking of her, and that's the big thing. We know we can trust her in that position. She had a couple of efforts at goal that were pretty close in the second half against Southeastern Louisiana. She's an exceptional player and we're lucky to have her. She's going to be a big-time player for us this season."

Brenna McPartlan
- On adjustments she's had to make to her playing style: "It's different, but not too different. We play very similarly to how I played back home, like playing out from the back. The only difference is, it's a lot harder fitness-wise and with the heat, you have to make adjustments. It's a step up, so I have to improve the speed of my play and my fitness. Everything I do has to improve, but the way we play is quite similar to how I did back home, which is good."
- On getting more involved in the offense: "That will be important so I can get some shots off and get some goals this season. I have to keep reminding myself to push out and when the ball gets forward, go and play just behind my midfielders so I'm ready for anything that comes out."
- On being a part of a brand-new midfield corps: "It's good because we're all learning what each of us is good at and each other's styles. We're still getting to know each other, but it's exciting. We're improving as a unit each session that we play together. It's been good to play with different girls each week; we'll only get better."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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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