MOBILE,
Ala. –
University of South Alabama soccer opens the 2009 season Friday when it travels
to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a 4 p.m. kickoff against Southern Miss at the
Marshall Bell Track and Soccer Complex.
USA
returns 21 letterwinners and nine starters from last season, including 2008
second-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection Brandi Smith. She led the Jags in
goals (13), points (28), shots (44) and shots on goal (28) last season. Smith
also led the team in game-winning goals with two. The sophomore from Oak Leaf,
Texas, ranked third in the SBC in goals and goals per game last season.
“We
have had a great preseason, and are looking forward to going to Hattiesburg to
get the season underway,” USA head coach Mike Varga said. “With the experienced
players we have on the team, it has been a different type of preseason, with
less learning and more fine tuning, so I like where we are right now. I know
Southern Mississippi will create a lot of problems for us, but I look forward
to seeing how we respond to outside competition.”
The
Jags are 8-7-0 all-time in season openers, and have faced the Golden Eagles
just once in a season opener in nine previous meetings. USA defeated USM 7-0 in
the 1997 season opener.
Southern
Miss leads the all-time series 5-4-0 after defeating the Jags 2-1 last season
in Mobile. The Golden Eagles return 10 starters from last season’s team that
finished with a 5-13-1 overall record and ended the season with a nine-game
losing streak. USM was outscored by opponents 29-3 during that streak.
The
Golden Eagles went 1-10-0 in Conference USA matches, and 0-8-1 at home last
season. Their last win at home came on Oct. 7, 2007, when they defeated
Marshall 1-0.
USM
is led by senior goalkeeper Holly Cox. She finished with three shutouts and a
goals against average of 1.76 last season, after allowing 32 goals and
recording 85 saves.
Live
stats for Friday’s match can be accessed by clicking here.
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).
