MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama women’s soccer team dropped a hard fought 1-0 decision to North Texas on Sunday at The Cage. With the loss, USA falls to 4-10, overall and 2-4 in Sun Belt Conference play. North Texas improves to 10-2-2 and 6-0 in the SBC.
The Jaguars opened the game with the first good look as freshman Tiara Smith fired a shot off a corner kick from freshman Samantha Slover, but North Texas was able to make a team save to prevent the goal. North Texas had two good looks but sophomore Kelsie Langford came up with saves both times
The Mean Green got on the board in at the 31:33 mark as a pass from Brittany Cleveland found an open Heather Hutyra who fired the ball past Langford for a 1-0 lead.
Heading into halftime, UNT held a 6-4 lead in shots and a 4-1 lead in shots on goal. USA tallied four corner kicks in the opening half and Langford made three saves.
The Jaguars had a couple of great looks in the second half to tie the game. Smith fired a shot off the crossbar that ricocheted off to the side and North Texas was able to clear the ball. Not more than seven minutes later, junior Shoshana Sevel put a ball from about 25 yards out just over the crossbar.
The Jaguars outshot North Texas (10-9) and in shots on goal (5-3). USA also had more corner kicks than the Mean Green, 7-6. Smith led the Jags with five shots, while Hutyra paced UNT with six shots and five on goal.
USA begins its longest road trip of the season as it visits Florida Atlantic and Florida International next weekend and then at Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe the following week. The Jaguars will return to The Cage, Fri., Oct. 27 against Troy at 7 p.m. for Senior Night.
