Southern Miss
10-3-3, 4-1-3
UAB
7-9-3, 4-3-1
Second Half Surge From The Golden Eagles Sends Southern Miss To The C-USA Championship Final
11/6/2021 12:20:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BOCA RATON, Fla. – A stunning second-half performance by the Golden Eagles propelled the Black and Gold to a 2-1 win over UAB on Friday night, Nov. 5, in Boca Raton. USM earned its tenth win on the season for a 10-3-3 record.
The win over UAB marks another historic moment this season as fifth-year senior Kendell Mindnich (Melbourne Beach, Fla.-Melbourne) became the winningest goalkeeper in Southern Miss soccer history, capturing her 31st win.
"I'm proud of the composure the Golden Eagles have shown throughout the first half. We went down, but we played our game plan. We played the Southern Miss way," started Head Coach Mohammed El-Zare. "We were able to make a couple of adjustments that gave us a little more momentum, but also gave us more possession. The ladies scored two beautiful goals."
Team captains, senior Ariel Diaz (Lubbock, Texas-North Texas) and junior Madisyn Flammia (Panama City, Fla.-A. Crawford Mosley) led the Golden Eagles with a goal apiece in the second half. Freshman Ilana Izquierdo (Cali, Colombia-Commeva) continued her magical touches, providing the assist on the first goal. Floridian freshman Mia Sadler (Jacksonville, Fla.-St. John's Country Day) set up the game-winning goal with the second assist for the Black and Gold.
Mindnich put in another great performance for USM, notching seven saves and faced 18 shots, with eight on frame. Five Golden Eagles picked up the full 90 minutes of action as four came off the bench. From the Black and Gold, two were issued yellow cards and one Blazer tallied a cautionary as well.
A slow start for Southern Miss in the first half gave the UAB Blazers the opening goal in the 16th minute as Morgan Holliwill netted top left. In the first half, the Golden Eagles and Blazers were level on shots, each taking 11. However, UAB took the lead in corner kicks, tallying seven as USM earned one. Going into the break, the Blazers held the advantage, 1-0.
In the second half, Flammia changed the momentum of the match as the junior forced in a towering header from Izquierdo's cross, beating the UAB keeper. Level at 1-1, the Golden Eagles dominated the period in possession and corners taken.
With only minutes remaining in regulation (87'), the Texas native and Spring 2021 Offensive Player of the Year came up with a moment of brilliance as she made a darting run from the halfway line, and passed to an open Sadler. The Floridian returned the favor with her shot blocked, coming to the feet of Diaz, allowing for the striker to net the winner, sending Southern Miss into the Conference Championship Final.
Southern Miss will compete for the Conference USA Championship title on Sunday, taking on the Monarchs of Old Dominion on Nov. 7, at 1 pm ET.
For Southern Miss Soccer updates, follow the team's Twitter account, @SouthernMissSoc, and check the main athletics site at SouthernMiss.com.
Team Stats
Morgan Halliwill (3)
Assisted By: Lexxe Lipsey
GOAL by UAB Halliwill, Morgan Assist by Lipsey, Lexxe.
15:28
Madisyn Flammia (2)
Assisted By: Ilana Izquierdo , Ariel Diaz
GOAL by USM Flammia, Madisyn Assist by Izquierdo, Ilana and Diaz, Ariel.
54:17
Ariel Diaz (4)
Assisted By: Mia Sadler
GOAL by USM Diaz, Ariel Assist by Sadler, Mia.
86:59
