MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama soccer returns to action this weekend with
a pair of matches against Southeastern Conference programs. The Jags look to even their record Friday,
when they host Mississippi State in the 2009 home opener. Kickoff is scheduled
for 7 p.m. at “The Cage.”
“It is
great to finally be at home on the same weekend that football kicks off,” USA
head coach Mike Varga said. “I hope a lot of people will come out and support
the team as we face an SEC opponent in Mississippi State Friday night. We have
played a tough schedule so far, and it doesn't get any easier this weekend with
two quality opponents. I hope we can add to the excitement around campus and
start the weekend off with an exciting match Friday night.”
USA (1-2-0) enters the weekend after suffering back-to-back road losses
last weekend. The Jags fell to Florida State 8-0 last Friday in Tallahassee,
and lost to Auburn 3-0 Sunday afternoon.
South Alabama has never faced MSU in a home opener. The Jags will look
to even the all-time series against Mississippi State on Friday. MSU holds a
2-3-0 series lead after defeating USA 1-0 last season in Mobile. The Jags’ last
win over the Bulldogs came on Sept. 23, 2001, in a 2-1 double-overtime match in
Mobile.
USA has an all-time record of 7-7-1 in home openers. The Jags’ last
home-opening win came in 2007 when they shut out Mississippi Valley State, 5-0.
USA enters Friday’s match with an
all-time record of 9-27-0 against SEC opponents. The Jags have dropped eight
consecutive matches to SEC schools, and have not defeated a SEC school since
its 2001 win over MSU.
MSU (2-0-0) defeated Jackson State 2-1 last Friday in their season
opener, and knocked off Morehead State 3-2 on Sunday. The Bulldogs are led by
freshmen Rachel Wannek and Monica Alvarado. Wannek leads the team in points
(5), and is tied with Alvarado with team lead in goals (2).
Friday’s match is available via webcast, which can be accessed through www.usajaguars.com. Fans may purchase the
webcast through their Jaguar Nation subscription, which costs $9.95 per month. Admission
to Friday’s contest against is free.
On Sunday, USA travels north to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama in a 1
p.m. match at Alabama Soccer Stadium. Alabama (1-2-0) dropped its season opener
to UAB 2-0 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide also fell to Samford last Friday,
3-0, before defeating Jacksonville State 2-1 on Sunday.
The Jags are 1-5-0 all-time against the Crimson Tide. Sunday’s match
will be the first meeting between the schools since 2003, when the Tide
defeated USA 1-0 in Tuscaloosa. The Jags are 0-2-0 all-time when playing at
Alabama.
The Crimson Tide is led by freshmen Kaitlyn Smith and Amanda Ortegon,
who share the team lead in goals with one each. Alabama goalkeeper Justine
Bernier has allowed six goals on the season entering the weekend, and has a
goals against average of 2.00.
Live stats for Sunday’s match against Alabama are available 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).
-USA-
