This fall, the University of South Alabama Women’s Soccer team had a phenomenal season. Finishing the season at 16-1-3, notable highlights were at the Lester Bimah Battle on the Bayou, where they went against Nicholls and won 5-0 in their season opener. Another great game for the Women’s soccer team was versus Alcorn State, dominating 8-0.

Since 2019, the school has not won a regular season SBC title, and now that they have, Head Soccer Coach Richard Moodie said that it’s “quite an achievement.” The Jaguars played a total of 20 games and despite having a few ties with Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi, went undefeated for the regular season for the first time in school history.

Moodie also shined light on some star players this season, such as graduate transfer Gabby Hollar, who he believes should be Newcomer of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Player of the Year. Hollar has since been named the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

Things were going well for the Jaguars soccer team until their loss in the semifinal of the Sun Belt tournament against James Madison 1-0. To make matters worse, following the Sun Belt loss, the Jaguars were not invited to the NCAA Tournament, leaving fans feeling that the team was snubbed from the tournament.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to be top 25 in the country. At one point Top Drawer Soccer had us ranked as high as No. 18. We, of course, are disappointed, firstly to lose in the Sun Belt Tournament, but also not to make the NCAA Tournament,” Moodie explained.

Despite the way the season ended, Coach Moodie provided a new perspective. “The reality is that we have to self-reflect, take an inventory and go again,” Moodie said. “Not for one second are we going to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. We will strengthen our schedule next year, recruit more amazing people and players to join us at South, and we will go again.”

---

Note from the Editor: Following our interview with Richard Moodie, it was announced on Nov. 28, that a nation-wide search for the next Women’s Soccer Head Coach would take place, as Moodie decided to take the Head Coach position at Purdue University. Over the course of seven seasons, Moodie guided the program to a 91-36-17 record, including four Sun Belt Conference Tournament titles and four trips to the NCAA Tournament. On Dec. 16, Chris Hennessey, former head coach at Lee University, was announced as the sixth Head Coach for Jaguar Women’s Soccer. During Hennessey’s nine years at Lee, their program saw a 130-31-21 record and invitations to eight NCAA Division II Tournaments.