CONWAY, S.C. – Junior Brenna McPartlan put the cap on a wild seven-goal game by scoring the go-ahead goal in the 85th minute as the University of South Alabama soccer team edged Coastal Carolina University, 4-3 Friday night.

The teams alternated scoring with sophomore Gracie Wilson opening the scoring at 21:46 of the first half. Wilson knocked in the ball from freshman Kailey Littleford. After Coastal had tied it up, the match remained level going into halftime. Junior Morgan Cross put the Jags back on top, 2-1, after Graduate-Student Athanasia Moraitou assisted on the scoring play. Helmert scored in the 75th minute after McPartlan fed the ball to her for the third goal, 3-2. CCU had reclaimed momentum with a third tying goal at 77:31, McPartlan put the game to bed seven minutes later after winning a penalty and notching the seventh goal of the contest, leading to the final score of 4-3.

Coastal Carolina's first and third goals were unassisted, scored by Mackenzie Gibbs and Carleigh Frilles, respectively. The second Chanticleer goal was pocketed by Lauren Denning with an assist by Casey O'Connor.

Game Facts
- The Jags had the same starting XI from the match Sunday against rival Troy.
- The club picked up three goals from open play, after scoring one in the first pair of matches.
- Littleford recorded her first assist in her second appearance as a Jaguar. The Freshman from Birmingham, Ala., played 67 minutes against Troy and 37 against CCU.
- Wilson scored her fifth career goal, and first since facing Little Rock (10/20/19).
- Helmert rippled the mesh for her 11th career goal.
- Moraitou pocketed her seventh total assist and first in since Oct. 11, 2019.
- South registered three assists in a game for the first time this season, while accomplishing that feat eight times in 22 games last Fall.

Notes
- USA improved to 6-1 in the series against Coastal Carolina and has taken wins in two of the last three matches.
- This was the first win in a match where South surrendered three goals since 2010; the previous game was a 4-3 win in overtime against Florida Atlantic, a Sun Belt member at the time.
- Cross had points in back-to-back games with a credited assist on the game-winning goal against Troy and goal scored in tonight's contest.
- This bumped the Dunfermline, Scotland, native's career total to 18.
- McPartlan was the first Jag since Briana Morris to score in three straight games.
- The Lancashire, England, native scored penalty kicks in back-to-back games.
- It was the second time the junior accomplished the feat with the previous coming in the semifinals and finals of the Sun Belt Tournament last year.
- Wilson picked up her first points of the season with two on the scored goal. The 2019 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year had the highest total of points of returning players for the Jaguars.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
- On the match: "To score four goals in a match is an amazing achievement on its own. I don't think it was our best performance but the important aspect was that we grinded out a result on the road against a team that has now scored seven league goals. They are dangerous going forward, well coached by Paul Hogan and we have an enormous respect for them."

- On the offense "Everyone stepped up with chipping in offensively, but for specific players, you have Kailey Littleford getting an assist as a freshman in her second game. Ana Helmert and Morgan Cross are on the scoresheet now which should give them both a boost of confidence. Brenna McPartlan has been in amazing form which should surprise no familiar with her."

Senior Ana Helmert
- On the goal she scored: "We got the ball out wide, with Wilson working extremely hard to maintain possession. After keeping the ball in her possession, Wilson shifted around defenders and crossed to McPartlan. McPartlan did not have a shot with her back to goal, but drew a defender to her. I made a run into a pocket of space, McPartlan one-touched me the ball and I sent it to the net."

- On her teammates' performances: "McPartlan performed extremely well and was extremely solid for us the entire game in controlling the middle and maintaining possession. Cross did an outstanding job of picking us up and keeping our energy levels high with skill and motivation. Overall, it was a great team win where everyone contributed, even if the score line was a bit wild."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars head to Boone, N.C., with an 11 a.m. kickoff Sunday against the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

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