Southern Miss
South Alabama
Soccer Wins Season Opener at South Alabama 2-1
8/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 26, 2008
MOBILE, Ala. -
Box Score: Southern Miss at South Alabama 
The Southern Miss soccer team used two goals from senior transfer Obafemi Alao to defeat South Alabama and win their season opener 2-1 in Mobile Tuesday evening.
Southern Miss gave up a first half goal to the Jags but Alao scored twice in the second period to give first year head Coach Scott Ebke his first collegiate head coaching victory.
"We learned a lot about our team today," Ebke said. "We know now we have the ability to bounce back and not panic after falling behind early."
The Jags (1-1) struck first with just over three minutes left in the opening half as Anna Ellingsen hit from about thirty yards at near post over the head of Southern Miss keeper Holly Cox to give the Jags a 1-0 advantage at the half.
Southern Miss (1-0) came out in the second half and played better defense and keep the ball on their end of the field playing possession sound soccer.
"Overall we improved in the second half. We came out with a little bit better will and determination and played better soccer than we did in the first half," Ebke added.
The Golden Eagles were able to tie the game in the 65th minute as junior Sarah DeFatta served a free kick into the box from the top of the right wing that Alao was able to tap past the South Alabama keeper.
The two teams traded possessions and the game appeared to be headed to over time before the Golden Eagles struck again.
With just under four minutes left in the game sophomore Samantha Polley served a corner kick into the box that rattled around before senior Sarah McFadden was able to deflect the ball to Alao and allow her to find the net for the second time in the game.
"Obafemi is an outstanding player, but there were a lot of people involved that helped her be in the position to score both those goals tonight, this was a total team victory," Ebke said.
Southern Miss will return to action on Friday as the Golden Eagles travel to Starkville to play in the Bulldog Invitational, hosted by Mississippi State. The Golden Eagles will face off against Northwestern State on Friday and Arkansas- Little Rock on Sunday.
-southernmiss.com-
