Nov. 1, 2007

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- - The Southern Miss women's soccer team (8-9-0, 4-4-0 C-USA) travels to league-leader UCF (11-3-3, 6-1-1) Friday evening for its Conference USA regular season closer for both squads. Match time is set for 7 p.m., CT from the UCF Soccer Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Southern Miss is coming off a 1-0 shutout against UAB last Sunday in Birmingham that helped clinch a spot in the C-USA Tournament for the first time since 2000. Bianca Ontiveros scored her third goal of the season for the only score of the match.

Southern Miss is tied for sixth with UAB with 12 points, but has C-USA wins over Marshall, SMU, UTEP and the Lady Blazers. Sarah McFadden leads the team with 12 points, including five goals and two assists. Goalkeeper Anna Fiser has notched four shutouts and 73 saves during 2007.

UCF is in sole possession of first place in C-USA with a 6-1-1 record for 19 points. A total of eight teams qualify for the C-USA Championship, Nov. 7-11, in El Paso, Texas, and so far UCF, Memphis, Colorado College, Rice, UTEP, UAB and Southern Miss have all clinched spots. East Carolina or SMU will receive the other berth, but ECU has 11 points with two league matches left, while the Mustangs have nine points and just one C-USA game on their remaining schedule.

UCF is 26th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 2.24 goals per game. Courtney Whidden leads the team with 11 goals, which is tops in the league. Goalkeeper Jennifer Manis has recorded six shutouts and 90 saves.

Following the match, the Golden Eagles will have to wait until Sunday for its opening round opponent in the C-USA Tournament.