MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama soccer team scored two second half goals in a 12-minute span as they defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles, 2-0, at the Cage on Friday night.

With 11 players behind the ball for most of the first half, Southern's strategy was to keep the game in front of them and counter-attack whenever given the opportunity. USA shifted to a 3-4-3 formation at halftime to counter the defensive numbers.

In the 58th minute, the Jaguars created their first goal of the night. Junior Tilly Wilkes played graduate-student Athanasia Moraitou into the clear, and the Greek International knocked a cross into the box. Sophomore Gracie Wilson was quickest to the ball and beat the Eagles' goalkeeper Sara Story giving South the edge, 1-0.

With GS forced to chase a potential tying goal and push players into more forward positions, freshman Kailey Littleford added an insurance goal with just over 20 minutes remaining. Moraitou connected with Wilson who put the freshman on goal with only Story between her and the net. With the net-minder retreated and counting on her quickness to make deny the goal scoring chance. Littleford put a shot on the ground directly inside the attacking left side post where Story had no chance to make a save.       

Game Facts
- While ceding possession to the Jaguars, Georgia Southern limited the Jags chances. Neither team posted a shot until after 14 minutes had elapsed off the clock.
- USA put six shots toward the Eagle goal in the first 45, but only one required a save to be made.
- The second half the Jaguar formation shifted for more attacking to a 3-4-3.
- After controlling possession for a few minutes, the Jaguars attacked with Wilson ripping a shot that was pushed back into play by Story in the 56th minute. South controlled the rebound and shifted the angle of attack with some quick passing. Moraitou found Wilkes in a gap, and the junior lifted the ball where Wilson completed the move pressing the Jags into the lead.
- Forced to make changed, the Eagles made a few subs for fresh legs and pushing offensively. While the move created the first shot by Georgia Southern, it left the defense more exposed.
- Eleven minutes and 50 seconds later, Littleford found the back of the net and scoresheet with one swing of her right foot. Southern had put together a bit of possession, but a turnover in the midfield allowed the Jags to push a quick counter-attack. With a few one touch passes, Littleford was staring down Story with no defenders separating the pair; Littleford's low-driven shot froze the goalkeeper and provided the insurance goal.
- Georgia Southern created an opportunity within a minute as the Eagles' Marcela Montoya found a pocket of space about 23 yards from goal. A rapidly-advancing freshman Anita Gudmundsdottir made a quick reaction save on the incoming shot, preserving the clean sheet.

Notes
- South Alabama's win streak hit 10 games with this victory in the series with Georgia Southern.
- USA has won the first four conference matches for the first time since 2017.
- Gudmundsdottir and the Jaguar defense has now collected back-to-back clean sheets, and is currently on a 192-minute shutout streak.
- Junior Matilda Ovenberger made her Jaguar debut, playing 37 minutes with two shots, both on goal.
- Wilson and Littleford both have points in two of the last three matches. Littleford assisted Wilson's goal at Coastal Carolina with Wilson assisting Littleford's goal tonight, in addition to scoring the game-winning goal tonight.
- Junior Tilly Wilkes added another assist giving her tallies in back-to-back games with points in three of the last four matches.
- Moraitou has five points in the last three matches with a goal against App State last Sunday, assist against Coastal a week ago and assists on both goals tonight.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
- On the game: "We had a lot of possession but we did not create many chances and that is very uncharacteristic of this team. I think that is where you can potentially start worrying. We were trying to be too patient and if you do that you can let teams grow in confidence, it can get dangerous. We changed formation in the second half, and pushed for a goal which the student-athletes were able to produce."

- On Gracie Wilson: "I think we have a lot of versatility and quality in the team with the ability to move players around and shift players further up the pitch. We have tried to move [Gracie] Wilson and [Athanasia] Moraitou further up and that adds to unpredictability. We also have multiple goalscorers and players that chip in. Wilson has been outstanding lately, and that comes with the effort of handling some of the nitty-gritty work in the middle of the park that maybe goes unnoticed, but tonight she is in the spotlight and scoresheet."

Sophomore Gracie Wilson
- On her goal: "Coming into the game tonight, I wanted to get in the goal box more. In previous game, I had been staying out wide a little bit too much. I discussed it with the coaches and they agreed that I needed to stay central a bit more. With that positioning and the beautiful cross from [Athanasia] Moraitou, the first goal lined up perfectly."

- On her assist to Littleford: "That play to [Kailey] Littleford is one of my favorite passes to make as a center midfielder. She loves making the run to the inside, and she placed it perfectly."

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