DECATUR, Ga. – University of South Alabama freshman Brenna McPartlan scored early in the second half to give the Jaguars the only goal they would need in a 1-0 victory over Georgia State Sunday afternoon at the GSU Soccer Complex.

The Jags snap a five-game losing streak and win their Sun Belt Conference opener to improve to 3-5 and 1-0. The Panthers drop to 2-7-1, 0-2.

GAME FACTS
- The teams went into halftime scoreless after an uneventful first half that saw the Jaguars outshoot the Panthers 4-3, including 3-2 on goal
- It took just over four minutes for McPartlan to break the deadlock; the goal, her second of the season, came on a free kick from 25 yards out
- Three minutes later, freshman Moa Öhman's shot was saved by Lydia Fraga
- In the 69th minute, a shot from freshman Morgan Cross hit the target but was saved by Fraga
- McPartlan put another shot on goal at 86:48 and a minute later, junior Briana Morris hit the post
- Junior Justice Stanford made four saves for her second shutout of the season and 20th of her career
- Fraga allowed the one goal and had six saves
- The Jags outshot the Panthers 10-9, and put seven of their shots on goal
- McPartlan was credited with three shots, all on target

NOTES
- South Alabama has started 1-0 in league play five consecutive seasons
- Stanford's clean sheet is the 20th of her career, moving her into a tie for first in school history with Sarah Hay, Melissa Drish and Kelsie Langford
- Both of McPartlan's goals this season have come on set pieces
- USA is 52-6-4 in all games against Sun Belt teams since the start of the 2013 season
- South Alabama leads the series with Georgia State 10-2-1 and has won eight in a row; GSU has scored just two goals in the losing streak

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "It was a scrappy game at times but for us, when we haven't played in a week, I thought we looked really good. We were the fresher team for sure. We controlled it well and overall I'm happy to get the win. There's always room for improvement, but there were some things we worked on in practice and looked really good on today."

On McPartlan's goal: "It was moving for sure. We weren't sure if it was in or not; thankfully the linesman was in the right place at the right time. There's no secret to her. She's been out on the field every day this week working on set pieces. When we need them in a moment like that to win the game, she steps up with the goods. I think set pieces can be the difference at this level, but at the same time, we've got concerns about who's going to step up now and where the goals are going to come from. I think we've got the right players, it's just trying to get the first one."

On the defense: "Justice Stanford was unreal. I thought last year she was the best goalkeeper in the conference, and if you watched her today, there's no doubt she's the best on the field. She's so good at collecting crosses and so confident. She's leading that backline very well. We had to rotate our right back – Kileigh Whited picked up a knock – and the girls have done exceptionally well. What we did worked really well defensively. The back four and Justice were fantastic, but collectively as a team we did well."

On Stanford tying the shutout record: "She didn't have to work too hard today and make many difficult saves. There was a tough shot down to the left that she did really well with, but her ability to collect crosses and command her area is second to none in our conference. Even against these bigger teams, she stands out. There's no doubt we've got a great goalkeeper, but I always go back to the girls that push her at practice. Our backup goalkeeper, Laurie Graves, works hard every day in practice. Laurie never lets off Justice and gives her an easy day. I think that's why you get what you get out of Justice, long may it continue."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars open their Sun Belt Conference schedule Friday at Appalachian State.

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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