University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, August 13
Montgomery, Ala. / ASU Soccer Complex
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
at
Alabama State
Southern Miss Opens The Owens Era Thursday at Alabama State
8/12/2026 10:48:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Head coach Danny Owens takes his Southern Miss women's soccer program to Montgomery Thursday night for its first competitive match of the 2026 season, a non-conference opening against Alabama State at the ASU Soccer Complex. First kick is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Coach Owens arrives in Hattiesburg after 20 seasons at William Carey University, where he established himself as one of the premier coaches in NAIA soccer. His hiring in December marked a significant program reset for the Golden Eagles as they look to build a winning culture under his leadership. In his final year with the Crusaders, Coach Owens led a 20-2-1 record, a No. 5 final ranking in the Coaches Top 25 Poll, and the SSAC conference tournament championship while advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the 16th time under his leadership. Over two decades at William Carey, Coach Owens compiled 18 winning seasons, 12 regular-season conference titles, and 11 conference tournament championships. His teams reached four national championship matches, won the 2018 national title, and advanced to six Final Fours.
Thursday's match serves as the first test of what Coach Owens is building. Southern Miss completed its preseason slate with home matches against PRCC and Jackson State on August 9, giving the Golden Eagles time to develop chemistry and work through their system. This is the moment where preseason training translates to actual competition. The non-conference schedule is designed to build momentum and implement playing identity before conference play opens September 18 at home against James Madison, the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Champions. That gives Southern Miss more than a month to evaluate personnel and develop cohesion before diving into Sun Belt competition.
Alabama State is led by second-year head coach Alicia Wilson, who built the Hornets' roster around international depth and youth. The program brought in players from Japan, Norway, Ecuador, and Nepal alongside approximately 10 returning student-athletes from the 2025 roster. Alabama State held scrimmages against University of Mobile and Southern Union during preseason, giving Coach Wilson's team competitive reps heading into Thursday.
This marks the first meeting between Southern Miss and Alabama State in recent seasons, making Thursday's opener significant for both programs as they begin their respective journeys in the 2026 season.
For more information and to stay up to date with the Golden Eagles, visit SouthernMiss.com and follow the women's soccer team on Twitter (@SouthernMissSOC) and Instagram (@southernmisssoccer).
Coach Owens arrives in Hattiesburg after 20 seasons at William Carey University, where he established himself as one of the premier coaches in NAIA soccer. His hiring in December marked a significant program reset for the Golden Eagles as they look to build a winning culture under his leadership. In his final year with the Crusaders, Coach Owens led a 20-2-1 record, a No. 5 final ranking in the Coaches Top 25 Poll, and the SSAC conference tournament championship while advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the 16th time under his leadership. Over two decades at William Carey, Coach Owens compiled 18 winning seasons, 12 regular-season conference titles, and 11 conference tournament championships. His teams reached four national championship matches, won the 2018 national title, and advanced to six Final Fours.
Thursday's match serves as the first test of what Coach Owens is building. Southern Miss completed its preseason slate with home matches against PRCC and Jackson State on August 9, giving the Golden Eagles time to develop chemistry and work through their system. This is the moment where preseason training translates to actual competition. The non-conference schedule is designed to build momentum and implement playing identity before conference play opens September 18 at home against James Madison, the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Champions. That gives Southern Miss more than a month to evaluate personnel and develop cohesion before diving into Sun Belt competition.
Alabama State is led by second-year head coach Alicia Wilson, who built the Hornets' roster around international depth and youth. The program brought in players from Japan, Norway, Ecuador, and Nepal alongside approximately 10 returning student-athletes from the 2025 roster. Alabama State held scrimmages against University of Mobile and Southern Union during preseason, giving Coach Wilson's team competitive reps heading into Thursday.
This marks the first meeting between Southern Miss and Alabama State in recent seasons, making Thursday's opener significant for both programs as they begin their respective journeys in the 2026 season.
For more information and to stay up to date with the Golden Eagles, visit SouthernMiss.com and follow the women's soccer team on Twitter (@SouthernMissSOC) and Instagram (@southernmisssoccer).
– #SMTTT –
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