MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama soccer continues Sun Belt Conference play this weekend with a pair of matches at "The Cage." The Jags host Western Kentucky Friday night at 7 p.m., and will take on Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
"Our focus this week has been on getting healthy," USA head coach Mike Varga said. "We have had sickness go through the team this week, and I hope that we get well by the weekend. Never in my coaching career have I had so many student-athletes get sick at the same time. We played a quality second half against UALR last time out, and I think we learned a little bit about ourselves and what we are capable of."
USA (2-7-1, 0-1-1) enters Friday's match with Western looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the Hilltoppers. The Jags are 3-8-0 all-time against Western Ky., and have not defeated the Hilltoppers since 2005 at "The Cage." USA also looks to even its home record against the Hilltoppers , which stands at 2-3-0 all-time.
USA forward Brandi Smith leads the Jags into Friday's contest. The sophomore from Red Oak, Texas, leads the team in goals (5), points (11), shots (22) and shots on goal (11). Smith is tied for third in the SBC in goals and goals per game (0.50).
Defensively,USA goalkeeper Katie Berry leads the SBC in saves per game (7.50), and ranks second in the league in saves (60). Berry broke the program's single-game saves record Friday against Arkansas State, recording 18 saves in the contest, which broke former Jag Amber Angermeier's mark of 17 saves (vs. Tennessee, 2002).
Western Ky. (6-3-1, 1-1-0) carries a 1-2-1 road record into the weekend, after defeating Evansville, losing at no. 24 Memphis and Southeast Missouri, and tying Kentucky.
Western defeated Florida Atlantic, 4-2, last Friday, and fell to Fla. International 1-0 in overtime. The Hilltoppers are led by Kellie Walker, who leads the team in goals (3), assists (6), points (12) and shots (17). Defensively, goalkeeper Libby Stout ranks first in the SBC in shutouts per game (0.43), second in goals against average (0.87) and save percentage (.854), and is tied for second in the league in shutouts (3).
On Sunday, the Jags square off with Middle Tennessee, which enters Sunday's match with the Jags ranked first in the SBC in five of six offensive categories. The Blue Raiders rank first in goals (32), assists (32), points (96), goals per game (3.20) and assists per game (3.20). Middle Tennessee ranks 10th in the nation in scoring offense and 13th in won-lost-tied percentage.
Middle Tennessee (8-1-1, 2-0-0) is led offensively by Shan Jones, who leads the SBC in shots (37), goals per game (0.80), points per game (1.90) and shots per game (3.70). She is also tied for the league lead in goals (8) and game-winning goals (3). Jones ranks 23rd nationally in goals per game, and 31st in points per game.
Defensively, goalkeeper Rebecca Cushing ranks third in the SBC in shutouts per game (0.30). Cushing has allowed just 11 goals through 10 games entering the weekend. The Blue Raiders enter play this weekend tied for the SBC lead with Denver, North Texas and Arkansas State.
USA is 6-5-1 all-time against Middle Tennessee, and 4-1-1 all-time against the Blue Raiders at "The Cage." Middle Tennessee's last win at "The Cage" came in a 2-1 overtime match in 2001.
Both matches this weekend are available via webcast, which can be accessed through www.usajaguars.com. Fans may purchase the webcast through their Jaguar Nation subscription, which costs $7.95 per month.
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).
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