BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of South Alabama sophomore Abi Mills scored early in the second half to account for the only goal of the contest as the Jaguars opened the 2018 season with a 1-0 road victory at UAB Friday night at BBVA Compass Field.

The Jaguars outshot the Blazers 15-5 on the day and put six shots on goal.

GAME FACTS
- Freshman Brenna McPartlan tested UAB goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty at 22:07, forcing Daugherty to make a diving stop
- The Blazers did not register their first shot of the game until 38:44 when Regan Kommor got free 12 yards out, but her attempt went straight into the legs of Jaguar keeper Justice Stanford
- Freshman Brianna Mascia had a shot from close range blocked two minutes before halftime
- South Alabama held a 9-1 edge in shots at halftime
- It took less than five minutes for the Jags to finally break the 0-0 deadlock; a cross from Mascia bounced free in the six-yard box and Mills put home the loose ball at 49:41
- Freshman Ellie Kane forced Daugherty to make another diving stop with just over four minutes left
- Stanford had the one first-half save in 90 minutes of work; Daugherty had five stops
- Junior Briana Morris and sophomore Ana Helmert each had three shots and one shot on goal
- The Jags held an 8-5 edge in corner kicks

NOTES
- Mills, who was limited to just eight games last season, recorded her first career goal
- The Jaguars improved to 1-3 all-time against the Blazers; South Florida is now the only school to have as many as three wins and no defeats against South Alabama
- USA is 1-0 for the first time since 2015
- Stanford is in fourth place by herself in school history with 19 career shutouts, one shy of moving into a four-way tie for first with Sarah Hay, Melissa Drish and Kelsie Langford
- The Jaguars have outshot their opponent 17 times in the last 20 games

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
On getting the win: "The weather played a significant factor today. It was windy at the beginning of the game. We chose to go with the wind in the first half and it allowed us to press. It worked and it created a lot of chances for us in the first half. It was a scrappy game and it looked like the season-opening game, and thankfully we were on the winning end of it."

On getting improvements: "We've gone 270 minutes without conceding a goal and that's something that can't be ignored. We've stayed pretty positive throughout what I wouldn't call a rebuilding year, but we have 13 new bodies in and among some veterans. We never looked like we were going to concede tonight; we looked confident as we defended. That's the positive. The goal was worked really well. Although Abi gets the credit for it, it was a freshman (Mascia) to a freshman (Morgan Cross) and it dropped for Abi, who was in the right place at the right time."

On holding UAB's offense in check: "UAB has always been a good team and they have a new coaching staff who have done a good job. They were excited last year with the new coach and now they have to start that transition, like we are as well. I don't think they'll be as offensive this year because they lost two players that scored a lot of goals for them last year. We were able to contain the dangerous players and we did a really good job at it tonight."

On Abi Mills: "We're just happy she's on the field. This time last year we were fighting through injuries and figuring out if she was going to play and when she was going to play. Now, to be sitting here knowing she's an option… She creates havoc when she comes in. She lacks a little bit of match fitness. She's fit but she needs matches under her belt. The position she plays for us is high intensity on the wing. Every time she gets the ball, she only has one thing on her mind, and that's to go to goal."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars welcome Chattanooga to The Cage on Friday, Aug. 24 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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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