University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Opens Season With Pair of Games
8/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss soccer team opens the 2015 season this weekend with a pair of games against Arkansas State and Jackson State. The Golden Eagles host the Red Wolves on Friday, Aug. 21 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be played under the lights at Bobcat Soccer Field on the campus of Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss. On Sunday, Aug. 23, the Black and Gold closes out the weekend with a game at Jackson State at 4:00 p.m.
"We're excited to finally get to this point," head coach Mohammed El-Zare said. "All the returning players have been working extremely hard since last season ended, and they did a terrific job in the spring."
The Golden Eagles have 14 newcomers joining the 14 returners from last year's squad, who finished 5-11-3 overall.
"Seeing the incoming players and returners grow together over the last two weeks and play as one, cohesive team is very exciting," El-Zare said. "I am looking forward to bringing that unity onto the playing field tomorrow."
With this year's large roster and collection of talent, Southern Miss has had plenty of healthy competition throughout preseason.
"There are two, three or even four players competing for one position, so they are all pushing each other, but also supporting each other," El-Zare said. "It is exciting to see a group of young ladies competing on the field while also encouraging one another. That is definitely something you will see with this team, the camaraderie and togetherness that they have."
In the team's opening weekend, the Golden Eagles will continue to focus on playing their own brand of soccer. Southern Miss fans can look forward to watching their team play the game with possession and skill.
"We are a team that tries to play soccer and move the ball," El-Zare said. "We will try to play an attacking brand of soccer this weekend because that's our culture. We want to play a game that not only pleases the fans but is also effective on the scoreboard as well."
Since first meeting in 2012, Southern Miss holds a 2-0-1 advantage against Arkansas State. Last season, the Golden Eagles scored a goal in the second overtime period to beat the Red Wolves 1-0 at the Southern Miss Soccer Complex.
Southern Miss will also look to extend its win streak against Jackson State. The Golden Eagles have a 5-0-0 all-time record against the Tigers, defeating them 5-0 last season at home.
Scouting the Opposition:
Arkansas State: Friday is the opening match for the Red Wolves, who went 4-14-0 last season and 1-8-0 in the Sun Belt. This is the first year under head coach Brian Dooley. Prior to joining Arkansas State, Dooley was the head coach for two years at Missouri after coaching at Florida Atlantic for 14 years.
Jackson State: Jackson State finished last season with a 9-9-3 record overall and a 5-4-0 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Tigers had five players named to the SWAC preseason team.
