FOLEY, Ala. – University of South Alabama junior Briana Morris recorded four points to lead the soccer team to a 3-0 victory over Appalachian State Wednesday morning in a Sun Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinal at the Foley Sports Complex.
The Jaguars improve to 8-9-1 and will face the winner of No. 1 seed Texas State vs. No. 8 seed Troy Friday at 4 p.m. The Mountaineers end their season at 9-9-1.
GAME FACTS
- The Jaguars took control late in the first half with a pair of goals in the final 5:19 of the opening period, both assisted by Morris
- Appalachian State recorded five of the first seven shots of the contest, but South Alabama had the next six, and nine of the next 11 over the final 25 minutes of the first half
- On the first goal, Morris took control of the ball after the App State goalkeeper rushed out and fed sophomore Abi Mills who scored from 10 yards out at 39:41
- Exactly five minutes later, Morris hit sophomore Ana Helmert with a pass between two defenders in the middle of the field; Helmert's outside-footed shot beat the goalkeeper with just 19 seconds left in the half
- The Jaguars had a chance to add to the lead shortly after halftime but a penalty attempt from freshmen Brenna McPartlan went over the bar
- Morris put the game away at 57:06 on a pass from freshman Tilly Wilkes
- Morris got loose on a breakaway in the 67th minute but her shot was stopped
- Freshman Brianna Mascia got behind the defense twice, in the 75th and 82nd minutes, but was denied each time
- The Mountaineers went down to 10 men after freshman Morgan Cross was denied a goal-scoring opportunity; on the ensuing free kick, McPartlan forced a diving save, and in a scramble on the goal line, the App State goalkeeper was sent off
- Junior Justice Stanford made six saves for her sixth shutout of the season
NOTES
- South Alabama has won five straight in the series and leads 7-1-1
- Wednesday marked the fourth straight Sun Belt Tournament meeting between the two schools; the Jaguars improved to 3-0-1 in those games by a combined 13-2 scoreline
- The Jags are 14-0-2 in their last 16 tournament games
- Morris' four points are a new career high; she entered the game with four points total all season
- Stanford recorded her 24 career shutout to move into fifth place by herself in Sun Belt history
- USA outshot App 26-10 on the day, and 11-6 on goal
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts: "First, we're a bit upset at how the game ended there with the injury so our thoughts go out to her.