MOBILE, Ala. – Three goals in the second half, with a pair in the final five minutes, pushed South Alabama past Columbus State, 3-1, Saturday afternoon in the first non-football game played at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

The Jaguars (13-6-1, 8-2-0) scored three for the first time since putting eight past Nicholls State earlier in the spring. Each goal came from build-up play with two players earning assist on each goal.

Columbus State (5-1-1, 5-1-1) was playing an exhibition, as the team looks to two more games against NCAA division I foes in exhibitions prior to the Peach Belt Conference tournament.

GAME FACTS
- The match started with Brenna McPartlan forcing Lady Cougar goalkeeper Bria Riancho to make a save 84 seconds into the first half, but that was the only shot in the first eight minutes.
- In the 22nd minute, the visitors scored the first goal in the history of Hancock Whitney Stadium. After the guests earned a free kick near the edge of the South Alabama goal box, Lady Cougar Maria Kilset's arcing shot narrowly avoided the human wall and nestled into the right side of the Jaguar goal, 1-0 to the visitors.
- Neither team were able to make inroads in attack and the only shot on goal the rest of the half was one minute and 24 seconds prior to halftime.
- Three minutes and 17 seconds into the second half, the Jaguars equalized. Through high pressing, South forced the Lady Cougars to surrender a throw in deep inside the defensive final third. Leandra Flury's throw found the feet of Kailey Littleford who one-touched the ball to Laurence Saviana. The midfielder from Carcassonne, France whipped a cross around the 10-yard mark inside the goal box. Lady Cougar goalkeeper Lizzie Hedrick and the defensive backline misplayed the ball allowing Hailey Bastian to smash the ball with her head into a wide-open net. (1-1)
- In the 54th minute, South looked to be imposing its will as Danielle Fuentes drew a foul in the box for a penalty kick. McPartlan strode up, but Hedrick guessed correctly and smothered the effort. McPartlan corralled the block and fired again, only to have a defender step in front on the second effort. The Lady Cougars pounded the ball away for a clearance, ceasing South's opportunity to go in front.
- The game became tactical for the next half-hour as the only shot was by the Lady Cougars which Luckhardt comfortably saved.
- With three and a half minutes remaining, South finally broke the deadlock. South earned a free kick from a handball on the deep right attacking third. Tilly Wilkes sent the ball in and McPartlan narrowly missed heading the ball on target. As CSU scrambled to clear the ball, the effort landed at the feet of Saviana. Saviana smashed an effort toward net that defenders and Hedrick dived to stop, off a deflection the ball soared in the air for McPartlan to head home before the defenders could recover putting the Jags in front 2-1.
- With forty seconds left, South killed the game when Fuentes put the ball away off a pass set up by Wilkes and McPartlan (3-1).

NOTES
- This was the first meeting between the pair of teams, and while Columbus State's result will show as an exhibition, the win will count for South Alabama.
- As a team, South Alabama has eclipsed 50 assists in a single season for the first time since 2015.
- The total stands at 53 which ranks fifth for a single-season in the South Alabama record books.
- McPartlan's goal is her 10thh game-winning goal which moves the junior into sole possession of 4thh all-time at South Alabama. She trails Charde Hannah for third by one.
- Bastian recorded her first career goal and it was the first scored by a Jaguar inside Hancock Whitney Stadium.
- Saviana has notched seven points in six games for USA.
- Fuentes scored her first game since registering a hat trick against Nicholls State.
- The junior transfer has 10 points on the year, making her the sixth Jaguar to reach double figures this season.

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
- On the playing at Hancock Whitney Stadium: "First and foremost, the opportunity to play in Hancock Whitney Stadium is amazing for these young ladies. I appreciate you guys [Pat Greenwood and Joseph Ashley], the administration, Jermaine Williams, and all the people who do things behind the scenes that make these things possible. The game in itself was more of an occasion and an opportunity to grow and learn a little bit about ourselves as a team before the national tournament. A fun occasion and experience but maybe not the best game to watch, but all-in-all a fantastic day at Hancock Whitney.

- On what was learned today: "We've seen good and bad performances but it was just like it was Murphy's law today. How many times does Brenna McPartlan miss a penalty? Things just couldn't get going for us and it seemed like we really didn't put our foot on the gas in the first five to ten minutes when we had them pushed back. Then we had a couple that came off the cross bar and frustrations grew. We learned a lot; we have to do better with adversity with these things when they don't go our way and try to fight through those moments to stay on top of the game. Ultimately, we scored two goals in the last four minutes.

- On the youth getting experience and contributing: "First when Hailey [Bastian] came off we congratulated her on her goal; she puts in the work on and off the field deserving of the opportunity to play. I'm really proud of all of them. The fact that they are local to the area as well, in the state of Alabama and coming to us, it's great to see as well. I know her [Bastian] family was here as well today, so I think that made it a little more special as well.

Junior Midfielder Brenna McPartlan
- On the result and opponent: "They're a good side and we did struggle at times, but we did get the result and that is the most important thing."

- On the team's progress: "Today was not the best, but the focus is on the national tournament, so we are trying to build up to our best at that game."

- On the performance goal: "We just need to be more confident in each other and ourselves. We also need to keep the ball and play how we want to play, because when we do that we are at our best."

UP NEXT
- The Jaguars hit the road to face Auburn next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Auburn, Ala.
 
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