MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama soccer team will square off against the University of Southern Mississippi on Tuesday night in the Jags’ 2008 home-opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at “The Cage”.
Admission for Tuesday night’s contest is five dollars. USA students are admitted free with their student ID.
The teams were originally scheduled to play Sunday afternoon, but due to the threat of Tropical Storm Fay, the game was postponed until Tuesday.
USA (0-1) looks to rebound from a 2-0 season-opening loss to LSU Friday night in Baton Rouge, La.
“We’re just focusing on our own play and what we needed to improve on from the LSU game,” Jaguar head coach Mike Varga said.
The game against South Alabama will be the first for Southern Miss this season. The Golden Eagles finished 2007 with an overall record of 8-10 and 4-5 in Conference USA play. Last season, USM was 4-6 in games away from Hattiesburg.
The Golden Eagles won last season’s contest against the Jags by a narrow 2-1 margin, however, South Alabama holds a 5-3 lead in the all-time series. The Jags have faced Southern Miss only once in a home-opener (1997), defeating USM 1-0 that season.
Southern Miss returns its top-three scorers from last season. Senior forward Sarah McFadden scored five goals in 2007, while sophomore midfielder Mallory Barnes and sophomore midfielder/defender Bianca Ontiveros scored three goals each.
“We’re familiar with a few of Southern Miss’ player from previous games, but they haven’t played a game so far this year, so we don’t have much to go by," Varga said.
South Alabama senior goalkeeper Kelsie Langford enters the contest 10 saves away from tying the USA career record held by former Jag Amber Angermeier (305). With her four saves against LSU on Friday, Langford now stands at 295.
USA has recorded three shutouts against Southern Miss (1997, 1998 and 2002), with two of the three coming in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Jags are 7-6-2 all-time versus current C-USA opponents.
The Jags sport an all-time record of 7-6-1 in home openers, and have outscored opponents 43-18 in those games. South Alabama has an all-time record of 7-6-1 all-time in home openers, and has outscored opponents 43-18 in those games.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
