South Alabama vs. ULM • Sept. 27, 2019 • 7 p.m. • The Cage (690) • Mobile, Ala.
South Alabama vs. Georgia State • Sept. 29, 2019 • 1 p.m. • The Cage (690) • Mobile, Ala.
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richard Moodie (Carson-Newman, 2006)
Record at USA: 28-17-5 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 76-56-12 (8th year)
ULM
Keyton Wheelock (Concordia-St. Paul , 2008)
Record at ULM: 13-43-7 (4th year)
Overall Record: Same
Georgia State
Ed Joyce (Erskine, 2006)
Record at GSU: 16-27-11 (4th year)
Overall Record: Same
SERIES INFORMATION
ULM: South Alabama leads 16-0.
Current winning streak: South Alabama, 16 wins
ULM's last win in series: N/A
Last meeting: South Alabama 4, ULM 0 (10/12/18) in Monroe
USA's record at home: 8-0
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 16 / 0
Notes: South Alabama has won two games in overtime… The Jags have scored 11 goals in the last three meetings in Mobile… Three straight games from 2005-07 and two from 2016-17 ended with 1-0 USA victories… The 16-match win streak is the longest active run against an opponent.
GSU: South Alabama leads 10-2-1.
Current winning streak: USA, 8 wins
GSU's last win in series: 3-0 (9/18/09) in Atlanta
Last meeting: South Alabama 1, Georgia State 0 (9/16/18) in Mobile
USA's record at home: 3-1-1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 8 / 2
Notes: South Alabama has won all eight meetings since Georgia State joined the conference prior to the 2013 season, outscoring the Panthers 15-2 with six shutouts… The teams met in the Sun Belt Tournament quarterfinals in 2013 (2-0 USA win) and the final in 2015 (4-0 USA win)… The Jags won the first two meetings in 1994 and 1995, but went winless in the next three (0-2-1).
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
South Alabama's goals against average since the start of Sun Belt play in 2018 is 0.60. USA currently leads the conference in GAA this season at 0.66 and has posted back-to-back shutouts.
Offensively, the Jags rank 32nd in the nation in points per game (7.10), 25th in goals per game (2.50) and 43rd in assists per game (2.10).
South Alabama's last three goals have all come on set pieces — two penalties at Ole Miss and a corner kick at Texas State.
Briana Morris, who leads the conference in goals (8) and is tied for first in points (17), has been held off the scoresheet in her last four games. This drought comes on the heels of a stretch where she recorded a point seven times in eight games dating back to 2018, including six in a row. Morris has five shots in her last four outings, with none on goal.
Morris is 24th in Division in goals per game (0.80) and 51st in points per game (1.70).
Justice Stanford was credited with both of the shutouts last weekend, giving her three on the season and 27 in her career. She is three clean sheets away from tying Danielle Wiley of Denver for fourth in Sun Belt history.
Stanford leads the conference in goals against average (0.69) and is tied for first in shutouts.
Gracie Wilson assisted on USA's game-winning goal at Texas State, giving her five on the season, which leads the team and is tied for the top spot in the Sun Belt.
Ana Helmert recorded goals in consecutive games at Ole Miss and Texas State, with the latter being the game winner, to move into second on the team and tied for fourth in the league with four. She converted from the spot to open the scoring at Ole Miss, then hit the back of the net with 1:56 left in double overtime to secure the win at Texas State.
USA's 16-0 all-time record against ULM is its best against any opponent, and the 16 wins are second most (Little Rock, 19).
The Warhawks have as many wins this season (3) as they've had in any of the last two.
Georgia State's Jimena Cabrero is tied for the conference lead with three game-winning goals, and goalkeeper Kendra Clarke is third in goals against average (0.82) and save percentage (.818).
MOODIE'S QUOTES ON THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
On starting conference play: "Firstly, I'm excited to be at home; we've been road warriors for three weeks now. We're coming back home with a lot learned. Now we have to fight two really good teams this weekend and try to pick up some more points. We're excited to get going and for another opportunity to play. It's definitely good to have that home field advantage again."
On the team scoring more off set pieces than the run of play: "We're still finding ways to score. Other than the Louisiana game, we've found ways to score whether it's set pieces or whatever. We had a couple of really good chances against Louisiana. We just need to keep working hard. Sometimes these games have to be decided by set pieces. Defensively, we didn't concede, which is fantastic, but offensively, it's not like the goals are drying up – we still look like we're creating chances and we're very dangerous going forward. We want to convert more of those chances and breaking teams down in the run of play, but we also understand that in conference play, it's tough; there's never an easy game. Whether it's a penalty, free kick or a corner, I don't really care how we score, as long as we're scoring."
On the defense of late: "I think it's because they're a little more connected in the back four. They've done a good job individually and there are a few girls that have rotated into that back four and done an exceptional job. They're led by Justice Stanford, who kept us in the game on Sunday as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to oversell that because I thought we were fantastic, but when she had to make big saves, she did, and when the defense had to make big tackles, they did. Collectively as a back four, we're still pretty young, so the future is bright."
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—
