FOLEY, Ala. - For the sixth time in the last seven years the South Alabama Jaguars are Sun Belt Women's Soccer Tournament Champions. USA claimed the title with a 5-1 win over Arkansas State on Sunday at the Foley Sports Complex.
The Jaguars tallied just three goals in their first two matches but exploded for five in the Championship, with three coming before halftime. Moa Öhman scored two goals on the day with her first coming in the matches 14th-minute.
Five minutes later the Jags went up 2-0 when a shot from the Jags was mishandled by A-State's McClure who ended up knocking in an own goal. USA took a 3-0 lead in the half on Briana Morris' 16th goal of the season in the 26th-minute of play.
Morris was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
A-State narrowed the Jaguar lead to 3-1 just before half on a shot from Sarah Sodoma but it was as close as the Red Wolves would get in the match.
USA tacked on two more goals within minutes of each other as Brenna McPartlan would pick up her second goal of the tournament on a penalty kick in the 49th-minute and Öhman headed in her second goal of the match in the 51st-minute.
With the win the Jaguars improve to 16-3-2 on the year will head to the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. The 2019 NCAA Division I women's soccer championship bracket will be announced at 3:30 p.m. CT on NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 11.
Following the loss, the Red Wolves will conclude their season with an 11-6-4 record.
The Jaguars outshot the Red Wolves 20-8 and had an 11-4 edge in shots on goal. USA's win pushed the Jags to 17-0-3 in Sun Belt tournament matches. In their six Sun Belt finals the Jaguars hold an 18-1 goal differential. The 11 shots on goal tied for the fourth-most in a Sun Belt tournament game since 2009 for the Jaguars.
Sun Belt All-Tournament Team
Hailey Furio, Arkansas State
Megan McClure, Arkansas State
Olivia Smith, Arkansas State
Sarah Sodoma, Arkansas State
Brooke Shank, Georgia State
Gwen Mummert, Louisiana
Tabea Griss, South Alabama
Justice Stanford, South Alabama
Brenna McPartlan, South Alabama
Moa Öhman, South Alabama
Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Briana Morris, South Alabama