TROY, Ala. – Junior Morgan Cross scored a pair of goals with freshman Izzy Ford adding a third as the University of South Alabama soccer team beat rival Troy, 3-2, Sunday at the Troy Soccer Complex.

After a late first-half goal from Cross gave the Jaguars the lead going into halftime, South was threatening early in the second half but unable to produce a second goal. The offense exploited a high defensive line played by Troy resulting in through balls and lobs creating chances for the Jags to strike. After Troy tied the match, Cross took advantage of a loose ball near the six-yard box and slotted it home to go up 2-1 with under 10 minutes to play. After Troy kicked off to restart the match, junior Brenna McPartlan snagged a loose ball and played Ford through as she finished, putting South up by two goals 19 seconds later.

Troy got a massive boost from goal keeper Lindsey LaRoche. The Trojan net minder recorded five saves over the match but was also quick off her line to smother chances.  Troy's Regielly Halldorsdottir tied the game, 1-1, with a free kick at the 66:22 mark, but South jumped back in front 15 minutes later. Melissa Kuya-Strobel scored with just under two and half minutes left in regulation but the Jaguars did not allow a shot after that cut the score to one goal.

Game Facts
- Both teams attacking early with defenses clamping in the final third. Kailey Littleford had the first shot of the game just under three and half minutes in.
- Troy's first chance came from a free kick at the 13:14 mark on the clock. The shot from Trojan Alisa Detlefsen came directly off the spot kick, but the attempt was over the bar
- South continued to press with Cross, Wilson and Ovenberger all creating chances, but they were either off target or saved.
- Cross broke the deadlock three minutes before halftime. After a struggle for possession, Ovenberger knocked the ball to Moraitou, then Moraitou played a through ball into a gap on the left side. The left-winger Cross lined herself up behind it and beat Trojan goal keeper LaRoche to the attacking right side as the ball nestled into the side netting just inside the post.
- Neither side could force the issue in the first 15 minutes of the second half as the only shot on goal was by Littleford as LaRoche recorded another save.
- In the 66th minute, Troy tied the match up. After play was originally allowed to continue, a foul was called on South's defense at the edge of the goal box. Halldorsdottir ripped the shot from about 20 yards out toward the right upper 90, and there was no stopping it.
- After weathering a deluge of offensive possession from the Jags, Troy appeared to relax as the Jags made another push. A ball played into the box in the 81st minute was initially corralled by the Trojans, but Cross found the loose ball and smacked the fumble into the left side of the net pushing USA in front, 2-1.
- After the Trojan kickoff, Junior Brenna McPartlan recovered possession and sent a through ball toward Ford. The freshman ran to meet the ball as the Trojan backline quit playing waiting for an offside call. The Sheffield, England, native beat LaRoche and the assistant's flag remained by his side indicating the play was onside and the goal would count as the Jags improved the margin to two goals, 3-1.
- Troy pulled one goal back in the 88th minute when Kuya-Strobel knocked in a shot from about 25 yards away, but that goal was the final shot of the contest as the Jaguars walked out of Troy Soccer Complex with the final score, 3-2.

NOTES
- With the win, the Jaguars claimed their 11th victory in the series with Troy.
- This is the third time the Troy and South Alabama have met in a single season, and the Jags have won both meetings for the second time with the clubs splitting one year.
- Anita Gudmundsdottir set a new career high with five saves, all occurring in the first half.
- Cross scored her second and third goals of the season which moves her to second on the club, trailing McPartlan by one.
- It was the junior's second career brace and both have occurred on Oct. 11. (Georgia State, 10/11/19)
- Ford recorded her first goal and career points as a Jaguar in her fourth game played.
- Moraitou registered fourth assists of year, which solely leads the team now. The graduate student was second in Sun Belt entering this weekend's matches
- Ovenberger was credited with her first assist as a Jaguar in her third game for the club.
- McPartlan added another assist to her name which brings her up to a team-leading 10 points on the season. (4 goals, 2 assists)

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
- On the game: "You have to look at the timing with a loss at home at Georgia State our last time out, so it was a good way to bounce back for the team. We put in three goals which was good for the result today for the win, but the performance in the final third could have been improved. This team has potential to do better than what we show."

- On Morgan Cross: "She puts in the extra work by doing what she is supposed to on and off the field to improve. She clearly deserved both goals today through her effort and skill. Her work ethic reminds me of Briana Morris and the effort she put in which led to a massive senior year."

Morgan Cross
- On the first and second goal: "On the first goal, [Athanasia] Moraitou played me through with a great ball, I took a great touch to create space and just slipped it by the keeper. For the second, I just ended up with the ball when a defender tried to clear it out and poked it in. It was a bit of luck, but I think it was well deserved with the chances we were creating."

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