Date: 8/5
Position: Defender

Returning Letterwinners (Key Stats): Deanna Green, Gr. (24 Matches Started, 7 Assists), Gabrielle Gayle, Sr. (24 MS, 1 Assist), Morgan White, So. (23 MP, 6 MS)

Letterwinners Lost: Leonie Salzgeber, Leandra Flury, Tilly Wilkes, Maria Verde, Megan Snider, Abey Nottingham, Tabea Griss

Newcomers (Yr., Hometown/Previous School): Kate Nicolson (Fr., Stirling, Scotland), Nora Sanchez (Fr., Zaragoza, Spain)

Notes
- Green recorded seven assists, five of which came on game-winning goals including during the NCAA tournament win over Colorado (4/27). 
- Green also moved into the top 10 for minutes played at South and is just outside the top 10 in matches played and started.
- Green finished fourth in assists in the Sun Belt with six during the season. 
- Both Green and Gayle set single-season records for matches started and played last season and played in every match where USA had a clean sheet.
- White saw time at the center back, center-defensive midfielder and midfielder positions last season. 
- Griss played in five of the eight shutouts South Alabama had last season.
- Nicolson won the League Cup and U19 Scottish Cup in 2019 with Celtic FC in Glasgow, Scotland, she earned player of the year honors in 2018-19.
- Sanchez played with the Spanish national team and finished in the runner-up position of Europe at the U17 level. 
- South recorded eight clean sheets during the 2020 campaign. 


Head Coach Richard Moodie
On leadership from defenders: "We're returning Gabrielle Gayle and a lot of the leadership comes from her. She's someone who speaks through her performances on the field. You've got Morgan White who started to be introduced into the lineup as we went last season. She featured a lot in the tournament and in the spring. She's someone who's grown so much over the year and I think she's got a big season ahead. Finally, Deanna Green has been the backbone and now it's interesting to see where she'll play because we played her up higher in the spring. She's a young lady who speaks volumes of what we're about here at South Alabama. The growth she's shown in her time here has been astronomical."

On returners helping younger players pick up defender role: "There's three student-athletes who played almost every minute last season so they understand our system. We hope they can pick up where they left off and help us educate the newcomers."

On the defender strength: "We're very possession-oriented and comfortable playing out of the back and we get that out of the returning three. I think all of the defenders we have possess the qualities to play with our system"

On the newcomers: "We've got two heavy-hitters in Nora Sanchez and Kate Nicolson—both high caliber student-athletes. I think they will have an immediate impact on the squad. Nora being dominant left-footed helps with Tabea Griss leaving, Kate is a huge addition for us as well."

Deanna Green
On the upcoming season: "We have a lot of new faces. I'm excited to see how everyone's styles of play comes together."

On her personal goals: "I want to win another conference title and make it to the NCAA tournament again."

On the newcomers: "I'm really excited to see how they play and fit into the team."

Kate Nicolson
On her personal goals: "I want to help the team as much as I can and try to keep as many clean sheets as possible. I also want to form bonds with everyone because that's important when you're playing in a match."

On the transition to South Alabama: "It's been different and very hot for sure. I'm glad we arrived early because we've been getting to adapt and get to know the team better."

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

—USA—