MOBILE, Ala. – Six home matches highlight the shortened fall schedule for University of South Alabama soccer with the conference schedule altered this season to divisions-based home and home contests.

Conference games will now consist of the Jags playing five teams twice instead of a single meeting with each Sun Belt member.

The season will open against a familiar foe when USA plays Louisiana on Sept. 6; however, Sunday evening's game will only count as a non-conference result, but will take place at the Foley Sports Complex in Foley, Ala.

Rival Troy will be the first opponent to play in The Cage and opens conference play on Sept. 20.

Following that meeting, South will travel to both Carolinas during the last weekend in September. The first stop is Conway, S.C., for a match with Coastal Carolina on the 25th. Then South will complete the trip in Boone, N.C., with Appalachian State on the 27th.

South Alabama begins October with a pair of games in Mobile, against Georgia Southern on Oct. 2, and Georgia State on Oct. 4.

Mercer University will visit to The Cage as the final non-conference opponent on the 8th.  

The back end of conference games starts on the following Sunday as the Jaguars travel to in-state rival Troy on the 11th.

The final homestand will occur Oct. 16 and 18 when Coastal Caroline and Appalachian State make the trek to Mobile.

The regular season will wrap up on the road as USA heads to Statesboro, Ga., for a match on Oct. 23 with Georgia Southern and Oct. 25 in Atlanta against Georgia State for the finale.

Following the completion of the regular season, the Sun Belt Tournament will be held at the Foley Sports Complex Nov. 4-8., which marks the fifth year that the site has held the event.

Head Coach Richard Moodie
On the comprising of the schedule: "This was one of the most challenging schedules that we have ever built. With information always being updated and situations rapidly changing coupled with the NCAA and conferences dictating changes to keep everyone safe, we will play with every guideline put in place to benefit everyone. We are fortunate to still get a chance to compete, and we will strive to continue that while doing the best we can."

On the preparation: "While following all the guidelines, we're still training [on the pitch] like normal. If there is a game, we are setting up to train as hard as we can to play the best game as we can. Nothing will change from a mental or in-game perspective."

On the impact and effect of COVID: "We have a few more hurdles along the way, but we will take things game by game and follow all the guidelines put in place. While we are competitors on the pitch, I became more of a supporter of the other teams in the conference this year. We're depending on everyone following the proper procedures to have a season this year. I am just hoping we can all get through this and still give these student-athletes a good experience. Thoughts are with all teams, but we can get through this."

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