THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richard Moodie (Carson-Newman. 2006)
Record at USA: 38-20-5 (4th Year)
Overall Record: 86-59-12 (9th Year)

Troy
Ged O'Connor (Trinity, 2000)
Record at Troy: 25-27-7 (4th Year)
Overall Record: 148-93-19 (15th Year)

SERIES INFORMATION
Troy: South Alabama leads 9-8-1

Current winning streak: 2 L
USA's last win in series: 2-1 (10/1/17) in Troy, Ala.
Troy's last win in series: 2-0 (10/4/19) in Troy, Ala.
Last meeting: South Alabama 0, Troy 2 (10/4/19)
USA's record at Mobile: 4-4-1
USA's longest winning / losing streak in series: 3 / 2
Notes: While South Alabama opened the season against Louisiana at Foley Sports Tourism on Sept. 6, this will be Troy's first match. Troy had a few spring practices but was unable to play any outside competition prior to the COVID-related spring sports cancellation. This match will feature teams that finished first and second in last season's standings. In the Sun Belt, both clubs had marks in the tops three of goals scored, points and assists. The Trojans will be featuring 14 newcomers with a few expected to make their first appearance Sunday afternoon.

After a single regular season contest, the University of South Alabama soccer team begins conference play Sunday by playing rival Troy.

South's single game of preparation was more than rival Troy as Sunday's match will also be its season-opener.

The Trojans, picked to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll with one first-place vote, have not had a match since last year's Sun Belt postseason tournament after COVID cancellations eliminated its spring games.

NOTES
- 130 Fans will be allowed to attend the match at the Cage on a first-come first-serve basis, as masks and social distancing will be mandatory in accordance with COVID safety guidelines set by the University of South Alabama and Alabama state law.
- As concessions will be closed, fans are permitted to bring bottled water into The Cage.
- This will be the first match played at the Cage for South Alabama soccer since Feb. 23 (Mississippi State).
- Sophomore Anna Brunner made her debut in goal playing all 107 minutes making three saves.
- Junior Brenna McPartlan rippled the mesh against Louisiana by converting a free kick from about 22 yards out.
- The Lancashire, England, native placed all five of her shot attempts on frame, which paced the team.
- Senior Ana Helmert and Graduate Student Tabea Griss each put a shot on goal, with Graduate Student Athanasia Moraitou placing her attempt inches over the crossbar.
- JUCO transfer Gabrielle Gayle, and sophomore Abey Nottingham made their debut as Jaguars against Louisiana. Gayle played the entire game paired at centerback with Leandra Flury. Nottingham spent time at left back.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Richard Moodie
- On the opponent: "They are a good team that is very direct in its attack, and it is a different style than we play but they can be very effective with it. They are well coached with talented players and are capable of competing and beating any team in the conference. We will scout them to focus on how they scored against us last year, and then look at the ways Louisiana scored against them in the tournament."

- On improved depth: "we still have a few day-to-day small injuries, but between COVID and Hurricane Sally, there is always some uncertainty. As of this moment, we should have more depth but this is an evolving situation. It is not easy for us, but we trust our players to make good, intelligent decisions and they have earned that trust by making the correct decisions in the past."

- On the benefit of having already played this season: "There is a huge benefit to facing outside competition, and you can try to recreate a game in practice or an intrasquad scrimmage but there is an aspect where mentally it is not treated the same regardless of how important it is. I believe the loss to Louisiana was looked at with more scrutiny because we let that game slip away than what would have been if we won. Every competitor looks for advantages when competing and we will use this experience as one."

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