MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama soccer scored twice in the first eight minutes and held on to beat in-state rival Troy 2-1 on Friday night at The Cage, ending the Trojans’ eight-match winning streak in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
The Jaguars improved to 9-2 overall and 1-0 in league play and extended their own winning streak to seven matches. Troy fell to 8-3 and 0-1.
Quick Start
Freshman Rio Hardy opened the scoring in the fourth minute, collecting an errant back pass intended for the Troy goalkeeper and walking the ball into the net for her sixth goal of the season.
Three minutes later, freshman Sophie Haywood finished a free kick from sophomore Nikki Shirtcliffe to make it 2-0.
Hay’s Scoreless Streak Ends
Neither team scored over the next 75 minutes. Troy’s Georgia Wallis then sent a free kick from the top of the 18-yard box that deflected off South Alabama goalkeeper Sarah Hay and into the net to cut the margin to 2-1. The Jaguars did not allow another shot attempt the rest of the way.
The goal was the first allowed by Hay in 532 minutes, dating to the season opener against UAB. South Alabama entered the match ranked 10th nationally in goals-against average.
“It was a great result, but I know we can play a lot better than that,” head coach Graham Winkworth said. “Credit Troy, they played extremely well. They caused a lot of problems and we managed to solve most of them as the game went on, and I thought the second half was much better. It’s important to get the first win. Sometimes wins come a little bit ugly and I’m pleased we got the result today.”
Up Next
South Alabama has the week off before returning to conference play Friday, when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m.
Before the Match
Both teams entered Friday’s Sun Belt opener at 8-2. Troy had won eight straight after losing its first two matches of the season to LSU and Louisiana Tech, and two of those wins came against Kennesaw State and UAB, the only teams to beat South Alabama this season.
South Alabama had shut out five of its previous six opponents and seven overall. Charde Hannah had been named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week in each of the previous two weeks, and Sarah Hay earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after making 11 saves the prior week, giving her five shutouts in six appearances.
A South Alabama player had won a Sun Belt weekly award five times entering the match, including a sweep by Nini Rabsatt-Smith and Sophie Haywood on Sept. 9.
