Date: 2/14

HATTIESBURG, Miss. –  The University of South Alabama women's soccer team dropped the spring season opener, 1-0, to Southern Miss Sunday afternoon at the Southern Miss Track and Field and Soccer complex.

Freshman Morgan White led the team in shots and shots on goal for the South Alabama (10-4-1) (10-2-1) attack while Allison Luckhardt made four saves on the day.

Southern Miss (2-0-0) got the win with Jenny Caracheo scoring an unassisted goal in the 35th minute. Kendell Mindnich and Sarah Preston split time between the posts with the former recording the win and three saves.

GAME FACTS
- Both offenses were able to create opportunities early with each unit earning a corner kick in the first six minutes of the contest, but the first shot was not recorded until Caracheo notched a shot wide of the net in the 17th minute.
- White ripped back-to-back shots on goal 21 seconds apart, but Mindinich recorded saves on both after 21 minutes of play.
- After blocking Laurence Saviana's shot USM counterattacked. The Golden Eagles earned a corner kick for the effort and on the ensuing play Caracheo fired in a shot to put the home side in front 1-0 at 34:05.
- South pressed for an equalizer, putting pressure on the home side with three shots in a 77-second frame starting in the 66th minute, but the first pair were saved by Preston with Saviana's effort missing for a goal kick and ending the attack.
- USA notched five more shots during the remainder of the match, but were unable to break down the Golden Eagles' defense and took a 1-nil loss.

NOTES
- Southern Miss has taken the last two wins against South Alabama, but in the overall series the Jaguars lead 10-6.
- This was the second time the Jaguars were shut out this season. The other match was a double-overtime defeat against Georgia State on Oct. 4.
- Allison Luckhardt made her first regular-season start in goal, recording four saves.
- Junior transfers Danielle Fuentes and Laurence Saviana registered their first caps in a Jaguar uniform, both in starting roles.
- Sydner Salter saw her first action subbing in during the 35th minute after the goal was scored.

UP NEXT
- The Jaguars travel to Montevallo, Ala., to face the Falcons on Sunday with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.

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