South Alabama vs. Tennessee Tech • Aug. 23, 2019 • 4 p.m. •  Troy Soccer Complex (500) • Troy, Ala.
South Alabama vs. Jackson State • Aug. 25, 2018 • 11:30 a.m. • Troy Soccer Complex (500) • Troy, Ala.

THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richard Moodie (Carson-Newman, 2006)
Record at USA: 22-15-3 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 70-54-10 (8th year)

Tennessee Tech
Steve Springthorpe (Methodist, 1987)
Record at TTU: 37-42-15 (6th year)
Overall Record: 119-125-31 (14th year)

Jackson State
Dr. Ted Flogaites (California)
Record at JSU: First season
Overall Record: 151-127-16 (16th year)

SERIES INFORMATION
TTU: USA leads 1-0.

Current winning streak: South Alabama, 1 win
Last meeting: South Alabama 5, Tennessee Tech (8/29/14)
USA's record at neutral sites: 1-0
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 1 / 0
Notes: South Alabama won the only previous meeting, also in Troy, 5-0 in 2014.

JSU: South Alabama leads 2-1.

Current winning streak: South Alabama, 1 win
JSU's last win in series: 1-0 (8/20/10) in Jackson
Last meeting: South Alabama 5, Jackson State 0 (8/30/13)
USA's record at neutral sites: 1-0
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 1 / 1
Notes: South Alabama defeated Jackson State 18-0 in Hammond, La., in 2002, the second-biggest win in school history… The two schools met in 2013 in Troy, a 5-0 USA victory.

THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
South Alabama has a 9-2 record at the Troy Soccer Complex since the start of the 2013 season, including a six-game win streak.

USA has won the last four neutral-site matches in Troy.

The Jaguars had their streak of four consecutive Sun Belt titles and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances snapped last season. The program's five straight Sun Belt Tournament titles was the longest active run in Division I.

Justice Stanford ranked second in the league last season in goals against average (0.57) and save percentage (.860) in conference matches.

Stanford currently ranks first at USA in career shutouts (24), second in goals against average (0.93), third in save percentage (.796) and eighth in saves (214).

Brenna McPartlan, recently named to the Preseason all-Sun Belt team, returns as the Jaguars leader in goals (5), assists (4), points (14) and game-winning goals. She ranked in the top 10 in the conference in all four categories.

Four of McPartlan's five goals last season came on set pieces.

Briana Morris, who ranked second on the squad in points (9) and assists (3), and tied for third in goals (3), was named to the all-Sun Belt Tournament team after posting a goal and three assists in two games. She played a part in all three goals in the quarterfinals with a goal and two assists, and added another helper in the semifinals.

USA is 57-10-6 in all games against Sun Belt teams since the start of the 2013 season.

The last meeting with Tennessee Tech came in Troy, a 5-0 USA victory.

Jackson State has four wins combined in the last two seasons, and went 2-16 last year.

MOODIE'S QUOTES ON THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
On officially starting the season: "I'm excited, nervous, anxious, all of the above. I think it'll be a great game Friday. Tennessee Tech is a good team. I think it'll be a challenge to go on the road and play at a neutral venue. To out on the road to open the season is tough; we haven't played at home yet. It's another opportunity to see what we've got. Hopefully there will be opportunities for people to play and we'll get to see where we're at after this weekend."

On what he learned from the team in the exhibitions: "In the Lipscomb game, we conceded in the first eight minutes and were just trying to get used to each other, but from that point until the 60-minute mark, we were brilliant. We weren't in control of the game, but we were in control of the ball, possessed the ball, were attacking minded and creative. It's exciting to be able to coach a group of girls that work hard for each other and are exciting when they get the ball. I hope that our confidence can still be high after the exhibitions – I think it is – but what we have is a fantastic group of individuals, that collectively as a group, are an unbelievable team. Hopefully we get to see that Friday."

On if there is a solid XI in place: "There are still places up for grabs, I think. The question is, who is going to put the ball in the back of the net. We have so many people that can do it, it's just a case of trying to figure out who is consistently going to do it. That's what every championship team has, one that can score 10 to 12 goals a season. Even defensively we have so many things going on. It's a good problem to have. We have a lot of options."

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—