FOLEY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team got goals from graduate Tabea Griss and senior Briana Morris to defeat Georgia Southern 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Wednesday evening at the Foley Sports Complex.

The Jaguars have now won six in a row to improve to 14-3-2 on the season. The Eagles end their year at 6-11-1.

GAME FACTS
- It didn't take long for the Jaguars to get on the board thanks to Griss heading home a corner kick from sophomore Tilly Wilkes at the 8:04 mark
- Just over 2 ½ minutes later, the Eagles looked to tie the game but senior Justice Stanford made a leaping save off a corner kick to preserve the shutout
- GS got an open shot in the 19th minute from just past the penalty spot, but junior Deanna Green was there to block it
- A header from freshman Bergdís Fanney Einarsdóttir at the 30-minute mark went just outside the left post
- The Jags went into halftime with a 13-5 advantage in shots
- South Alabama peppered the Georgia Southern goal in the second half, but didn't put an attempt on net until a header from sophomore Brenna McPartlan tested the GS goalkeeper with 12 minutes left
- Morris finally put the game way at the 79:27 mark with a header from inside the 6-yard box on a cross from freshman Gracie Wilson
- Morris was stymied on a breakaway in the 85th minute; she was unable to completely evade the goalkeeper, but regathered the ball and put her attempt just wide
- The Jaguars outshot the Eagles 23-7, including 9-4 on goal
- Stanford made four saves for the shutout; Sallie Newton allowed both goals and made seven stops

NOTES
- South Alabama is 15-0-3 in Sun Belt Tournament games since 2013, and 66-11-7 in all games against Sun Belt opponents in that same time span
- USA has won nine consecutive meetings against GS, including all eight via shutout since the Eagles joined the Sun Belt in 2014
- Morris has 15 goals this season, tied for sixth most in a single season at USA
- Morris has scored a goal in each of her last five games
- The Jags' clean sheet is their 11th of the season, which is tied for third in South Alabama history, and one away from the record set in 2014 and 2016
- USA has nine shutouts in their last 11 outings
- Stanford has 33 shutouts in her career, and nine this season, which is fourth in school history
- Wilson's assist gives her eight on the season to move up to a tie for 12th at USA in a single season

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
On the win: "We changed our system based off of some personnel changes, and we took a while to get into the game; that's a coaching mistake on my part. It wasn't our best performance, but not our worst. In a tournament, you take 2-0 all day and you move on to the next round. Regardless of how you play, the result in the end is what matters for us right now."

On Briana Morris: "They fear her when she's running at them with the ball, but you see her aerial ability; she has scored a few headers this year. She's good in and around the box, running at people and in the air as well. She is someone who is in and around the goal. She could have had a couple more tonight, I think, but we're just excited she's a South Alabama player."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars advance to the semifinals where they will face the winner of Georgia State vs. Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m. Friday.

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