CONWAY, S.C. – University of South Alabama senior Briana Morris scored a pair of goals, including the game winner in double overtime, to lead the Jaguars to a 3-2 over Coastal Carolina Sunday afternoon at the CCU Soccer Stadium.

The Jaguars complete their road trip with a pair of victories, and improve to 11-3-2 overall and 6-1-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Chanticleers fall to 5-6-2 and 3-1-1.

GAME FACTS
- It took just 6:30 for Coastal Carolina to get on the board, scoring directly off a corner kick
- Three minutes later, CCU's Baylee Price forced a diving save in the top left corner by Justice Stanford
- Late in the first half, the Chanticleers' Hannah Miller hit the crossbar at 37:59
- CCU went into intermission with an 9-6 edge in shots
- South Alabama tied the game at the 66:44 mark after a cross by freshman Gracie Wilson from the right wing was deflected into a crowd and Morris knocked it home
- The Jags failed to clear a corner kick in the 79th minute, and Gabby Smychynsky got a hold of a loose ball inside the six-yard box and scored for a 2-1 advantage
- Wilson tied the game 1:41 later after putting home her own rebound at 80:18
- Coastal Carolina's Hannah Miller nearly capitalized in a Jaguar misplay at the back in the last three minutes of regulation, but her shot was blocked
- On the game winner, Morris dribbled down the right side of the field, cut back inside and took a shot that deflected off a CCU defender past Atteberry at 106:12

NOTES
- USA moves five points above Troy in the league standings; the Trojans are idle until Thursday night against Little Rock
- Morris' brace is her fourth of the season and first in league play; she leads the conference with 12 goals and 26 points
- Morris' four two-goal performances are tied for third-most by a Jaguar since 2009; only Chardé Hannah and Rio Hardy, who had five in 2014 and 2017, respectively, had more
- USA won for the first time this season when allowing multiple goals (1-1-1)
- The Jags are 7-1-5 in overtime games under head coach Richard Moodie, including 3-0-2 in 2019
- South Alabama avenges last season's OT loss in Mobile and now leads the series 5-1

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "This was one of those games where it could've gone anybody's way but I'm glad it went our way. The girls were warriors. I don't think it was our best performance, but in terms of unity and a collective effort from the team, I think today was a fantastic win. They never gave up – they always believed. It's hard to say we deserved to win it, because, again, I think it could've gone anybody's way, but we certainly stuck around and never gave up. I don't think I've ever been a part of anything like that. The team were phenomenal. It's an amazing group of young ladies, they're enjoyable to be around and are starting to earn their own luck."

On halftime adjustments: "Truthfully, when we went one down, I didn't know where the goal was going to come from. Then, when we get the goal, it's like, Breathe, then we concede another one with 10 minutes to go. We went three at the back, pressed and scored almost instantly. I don't think it was a shift in personnel or a change in shape, I think it was mentality; it's that hunger and desire to want to win and be a champion. That's what changed in the second half. I don't think it was anything we said at halftime, it was just the mentality shift within the group. You have some great leaders and upperclassmen that are chipping in, but the freshmen listen and work well together."

On Morris' day: "She put the team on her back, but at the same time, there were a lot of girls chipping in there in the engine room doing all of the dirty work. But I would say her second goal was phenomenal. In a game that was in extra time, she was dropping back to defend, picked off a pass and had the ability to maintain her composure, get in the box, beat her defender, get across goal and score. That speaks volumes of the type of player she is. It's not like little half-chances that fall to her, it's often that she's having to work for these chances – she creates them out of nothing. She did fantastic, but there are a lot of things happening off the ball with our team that we love to see that are allowing her to have the success that she's having."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars return to action next Sunday against Little Rock. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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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