FOLEY, Ala. – University of South Alabama sophomore
Brenna McPartlan converted from the spot in the 24th minute for the only goal of the match as the Jaguars defeated Georgia State 1-0 in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Tournament Friday night at the Foley Sports Complex.
The top-seeded Jaguars extend their win streak to seven and go to 15-3-2 on the season. The Panthers end their year at 9-9-2.
GAME FACTS
- Following an uneventful first 20 minutes of the contest, senior
Briana Morris was taken down in the box at 23:05 to give the Jaguars a penalty; McPartlan's attempt was deflected off GSU goalkeeper Kendra Clarke and the right post, but went in for a 1-0 lead
- USA freshman
Bergdís Fanney Einarsdóttir got loose in the penalty area in the 41st minute but her shot was high
- Lily Barron forced South Alabama goalkeeper
Justice Stanford to go to the ground with a shot from the top of the box just before halftime
- The Jaguars started a dominant spell at the 57-minute mark with a short-range header from sophomore
Moa Öhman that went straight to Clarke
- Thirty seconds later, Morris' attempt skimmed the crossbar
- Einarsdóttir whipped a shot in from the left side at 59:52 that Clarke dove to keep out
- McPartlan drilled a shot from 20 yards out in the 74th minute that was tipped over the bar
- From the 56th minute on, the Jags outshot the Panthers 14-0 and had a 5-1 edge in corner kicks
- Stanford made two saves for her 10th shutout of the season, a total that's tied for second in school history
NOTES
- South Alabama is 16-0-3 in Sun Belt Tournament games since 2013, and 67-11-7 in all games against Sun Belt opponents in that same time span
- Morris had her career-long five-match goal streak snapped
- USA's 12 shots on goal are tied for the second-most in a Sun Belt Tournament match in the last 11 seasons, and the 22 shots are tied for third
- Stanford is tied with Sarah Hay (2014) and herself (2016) for second in USA history, and trails
Kyla Rogers (2000) by one for the record
- Stanford lowered her season goals against average to 0.55
- The Jags as a team have 12 clean sheets this season, which ties the school mark set in 2014 and 2016
- South Alabama has 10 shutouts in their last 12 games
- USA leads the series with Georgia State 12-2-1 and have won 10 in a row, with three victories coming in the Sun Belt Tournament
- The Jaguars will be making their sixth appearance in the Sun Belt final in the last seven years
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
On the game tonight: "The wind was a massive factor, so we knew in the first half, if we could get through and get into halftime 0-0, we would do well in the second half. But a goal in the first half forced Georgia State to find an answer. I'm proud of the girls. It's not a pretty way to play, but we got the job done."
On McPartlan's play tonight: "She's a winner. She's a great athlete. Tournament time is always interesting because you get the all-conference teams and there are a few girls that aren't on there and want the recognition. Tournament time is when players need to step up and I think you see players on the field for us that want the recognition. Brenna McPartlan is the engine in the midfield with Gracie Wilson and Ana Helmert beside her. It's just a really good combination. I'm really proud of her efforts and the penalty was fantastic as well."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars will face No. 3 seed Arkansas State in the championship game of the Sun Belt Tournament Sunday at 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
—USA—
