TROY, Ala. – Three University of South Alabama soccer players scored a brace and the Jaguars put up their highest goal total since 2013 in a 9-0 victory over Jackson State Sunday in the Trojan Classic at the Troy Soccer Complex.
The Jaguars improved to 1-0-1 while the Tigers fell to 0-2.
GAME FACTS
- USA put up seven goals in the first half alone, thanks to two goals from senior
Briana Morris and a goal and an assist each from sophomore
Brenna McPartlan and
Bergdís Fanney Einarsdóttir
- The Jaguars recorded 31 shots and put 20 of them on goal
- In her first career start, freshman
Gracie Wilson recorded a pair of assists, as did graduate
Athanasia Moraitou
- South Alabama scored twice within 30 seconds early on the contest, getting the first career goal from graduate
Chloe McGlade at 5:29, followed by a strike from Morris at 5:57
- Morris came through again at the 10:54 mark from Wilson, and sophomore
Moa Öhman tallied the first of her two goals in the 14th minute for a 4-0 lead
- Einarsdóttir fed junior
Ana Helmert for the fifth goal at 23:21, and McPartlan hit the back of the net in the 34th minute
- Einarsdóttir made it 7-0 right before halftime on a pass from freshman
Brianna Pope
- USA's final two goals came in the first five minutes after halftime; Öhman posted her second of the contest from Wilson at 48:08, and McGlade added a goal off a missed penalty less than two minutes later
- Senior
Justice Stanford and junior
Laurie Graves shared the clean sheet for the Jags; only Graves was called on to make a save
NOTES
- Graves made her second career appearance after playing the entire second half
- South Alabama last scored nine or more goals in an 11-0 victory vs. Alabama A&M on Sept. 15, 2013
- USA leads the series 3-1, and the three wins have come by a combined 32-0
- Morris' and Öhman's braces were the first of their career
- Morris has at least one point in each of her last four games
- The Jaguars are 7-0-1 in their last eight games at the Troy Soccer Complex
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "We knew what we were up against, we just had to come out and step on them early, and we were able to do that. We were two goals up in the first five minutes. Overall, I'm pleased. Lots of bodies got lots of minutes and it's great to see some players in different positions."
On the team scoring effort: "We just looked electric going forward and we have to find a rhythm. Everybody was working. Jackson State worked hard against Troy and maybe they put all of their effort into that game because they were a little bit beat. It wasn't given to us; we still had to go and get it. Fair play to them; they kept working hard all the way down to the end."
On the positives of getting a lot of players time on the field: "We didn't schedule this game, but it's probably one that we needed the last couple of years, just to have a bit of confidence and get the ball in the back of the net. We had two tough preseason games and then Tennessee Tech, which isn't as easy as you think. Today wasn't easy either; you still have to show up and look to score goals. It was good for the girls and we're looking good going into next week."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars open their home schedule Friday at 7 p.m. against UAB.
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—
