South Alabama vs. Appalachian State • Oct. 25, 2019 • 7 p.m. • The Cage (690) • Mobile, Ala.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richard Moodie (Carson-Newman, 2006)
Record at USA: 34-18-5 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 82-57-12 (8th year)

Appalachian State
Sarah Strickland (George Mason, 1998)
Record at App: 75-87-26 (10th year)
Overall Record: Same

SERIES INFORMATION
South Alabama leads 7-1-1.

Current winning streak: USA, 5 wins
App State's last win in series: 4-3 2ot (10/23/16) in Boone
Last meeting: South Alabama 3, App State 0 (10/14/18) in Foley, Ala.
USA's record at home: 2-0
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 5 / 1
Notes: The schools split two meetings in 2016, with App State edging out South Alabama 4-3 in double overtime in Boone, and the Jaguars getting revenge with a 6-0 victory in the Sun Belt Tournament… The teams have met in the Sun Belt Tournament in each of the last four years, with USA holding a 3-0-1 record… The 2015 postseason meeting ended in a 2-2 tie but the Jags advanced 10-9 on penalties.

THIS WEEKEND'S GAME
A win Friday would clinch the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title for South Alabama. It would be the program's fifth in the last six seasons.

A victory would also mark the Jaguars' first 100% record at home since 1998, and the second-most wins without a loss since the 1997 team went 9-0. USA enters Friday's contest with a 6-0 record at The Cage.

The Jags picked up their 100th all-time Sun Belt win Sunday against Georgia Southern, extending their own record.

USA is 64-11-7 in all games against Sun Belt teams since the start of the 2013 season.

Under head coach Richard Moodie, the Jaguars are 7-1-5 in overtime games, including 3-0-2 this season.

The Jags are first in the Sun Belt in shutouts (9) and second in goals against average (0.61). The team has seven clean sheets in its last nine outings.

USA is one away from tying the school record for most shutouts in the regular season (10)

Justice Stanford is second in the conference in GAA (0.63) and first in shutouts (8). Her clean sheet Sunday was the 32nd of her career to move into third place by herself in Sun Belt history.

USA has scored three or more goals nine times this season, fourth most in school history.

After scoring just one goal in an eight-game span, Morris has four in her last three outings. Her 13 goals on the season are tied for eighth in school history.

Morris is first in the conference in both goals (13) and points (28).

Gracie Wilson has 15 points this season, the most by a Jaguar freshman since Jemma Purfield had 17 in 2015.

Wilson ranks second in the league with seven assists, and tied for fifth in points.

Appalachian State has scored 22 goals this season — tied for third in the conference — but their team leader, Ava Dawson, has just four. They have gotten goals from 12 different players, compared to 11 for the Jags.

The Mountaineers' Kristin Brown is tied for third in the Sun Belt with six assists.

MOODIE'S QUOTES ON THIS WEEKEND'S GAME
On the upcoming weekend: "It's just surreal that we're at the end of the season. If somebody could've said on the front end that you'd be playing to win a championship on the last day of the season on senior night, that would be the dream scenario. We're just excited for another opportunity to take the field together. We obviously can't ignore the fact that if we win, we're the regular-season champions. The occasion can't take away from the quality of the performance. That's got to be the focal point and that's got us to where we're at. Appalachian State is a fantastic team; they've had some good results against the big teams so they're more than capable and much better than what their record shows. We're going to put more time and effort into this game than maybe the ones before because we understand the delicacy of it."

On being so successful at home: "We said to them at the start of the season, if you want to be a championship contender, you have to win and build a fortress at home. That's an area where we've always wanted to do better. If you don't win at home, you don't stand much of a chance of winning championships. The mentality is, when you're at home, you're expected to win and be at your best because there are no excuses. We don't fight the travel issues that can come up. It's being in front of your home fans on your home field."

On Appalachian State: "Arkansas State, Little Rock and Appalachian State are very similar teams. Appalachian State are clinical on set pieces; their corner kicks and such are very good. They're a confidence team too, so when things are going well for them, they grow into the game. For us, it's can we hold off their threats, but at the same time, not pay too much attention to that and just be the best version of us. That's what we did a good job of against Little Rock. After we felt each other out for 20 minutes, I thought we controlled possession, we got the goal right before half then the second one; that kills them. When you're on the road and you've maybe come in with a plan to keep the game at 0-0 for as long as possible, if you concede a goal then your plans have gone off to the side. We just have to focus on us, try to limit their strengths and make sure we don't give them any opportunities to get into the game."

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

—USA—