HAMMOND, La. – The University of South Alabama soccer team scored twice in the first half and cruised to a 3-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana Sunday night at Strawberry Stadium.

The Jaguars bounce back from their first loss of the season on Thursday and improve to 4-1-1 on the year. The Lions drop to 1-3-1.

GAME FACTS
- Sophomore Brenna McPartlan tested the SELU goalkeeper early, forcing a diving save on a free kick at 5:31 that resulted in a corner kick
- On the ensuing corner, the Lions failed to clear, and senior Briana Morris put home a rebound from McPartlan at 6:17
- South Alabama added another goal later in the half on a second corner; freshman Leandra Flury took advantage of another failed clearance and tucked her shot just inside the near post at 40:35
- Early in the second half, a shot from graduate Athanasia Moraitou was saved off the crossbar, and an attempt from graduate Chloe McGlade sent Nadine Maher to the ground for the save
- Morris was left alone at the top of the box in the 75th minute, but she sent her shot straight to the Southeastern Louisiana goalkeeper
- After Morris was fouled in the box in the 80th minute, McPartlan put her penalty attempt off the left post, and the follow from graduate Tabea Griss went over the bar
- SELU's Caroline Lee tested USA goalkeeper Justice Stanford at close range in the 84th minute, but Stanford was in position for the save
- Morris added her second of the night in the final two minutes of the contest off a pass from freshman Gracie Wilson
- Stanford made three saves for her first shutout of the season

NOTES
- Tonight marked South Alabama's first visit to Hammond since 2007
- The Lions are coached by former Jaguar assistant Christopher McBride
- USA leads the series 7-1-1
- Morris' eight goals tie the most by a Jaguar in the first six games of the season in the last 11 seasons (Lauren Allison, 2013)
- Morris has scored a goal in five of the six games this season, and has at least one point in seven of her last eight outings
- Wilson's assist was her fourth of the season, tying her with Moraitou for the team lead
- The Jags' 22 goals after six games are tied for fifth in school history
- USA had an 18-6 advantage in shots

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "I thought we played against a very good Southeastern Louisiana side. Coach McBride has done a great job with that group and they're a very good team. It's a difficult place to play, the field is a little tight, it's a tough surface and we thought we had to play a certain way to get a result tonight, and the girls were able to execute how we wanted to play and stop them from doing what they wanted to do. All around it was a good night. Our effort and desire was so much better than what it was on Thursday. I'm really proud of the response."

On the dangerous set pieces: "It was our goal to press them in the first 10 minutes, squeeze them into their half and try to get set pieces. We were winning deep corners, throw-ins and all sorts of things. It certainly was our goal to press and squeeze them, but the corner was a moment of creativity from the girls. They created and executed that twice."

On Morris: "I thought she was brilliant. She could've had three – she got taken down by the goalkeeper in the box which led to a penalty that we missed – but she's one of those players that can be quiet for 89 minutes and the one minute you lose track of her, she's got the ball in the back of the net. There's no secret recipe for this; she's working hard, putting in extra work away from practice and she's reaping the rewards."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars continue non-conference play Thursday with a match at Mississippi State; kickoff is scheduled for 7 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—