Nov. 6, 2007

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- - The Southern Miss women's soccer team plays in the Conference USA Tournament for the first time since the 2000 season when the Lady Eagles meet No. 2 seed Memphis, Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m., central.

Southern Miss (8-10, 4-5-0) wrapped up its season with a loss to regular season co-champion, UCF, 2-0. Sarah McFadden (5-10, Jr., F, Magherfelt, Northern Ireland) leads the team with five goals scored on the season with two assists. McFadden has taken 55 shots, including 20 shots on goal. She has recorded three game-winning goals. The top defenders include Sarah Brusco (5-4, Fr., Dallas, Texas) who has played 1,296 minutes and Liz Hamlin (5-4, So., D, Kenner, La.), who has leads the team in minutes played behind the goalkeeper.

Senior Anna Fiser owns an 8-10 record at goalkeeper with 86 saves and a 1.76 goal against average. She has played all but 51 minutes in the 18 matches.

Coach Gail Macklin is in her fourth season as head coach, but she has been a part of Southern Miss soccer since the inception, first as a founding member and player, then as a volunteer assistant, followed by assistant coach. Macklin is one of the youngest head coaches in the nation Division I soccer.

The 2007 squad consisted of five seniors and juniors, four sophomores and nine freshmen. Of the nine freshmen, six have recorded six or more starts during the season.

Memphis (14-3-1, 7-1-1) finished the campaign with a share of the regular season title. Kylie Hayes leads the Tigers with eight goals, including three game winners and three assists. Harumi Someya is second on the team with seven goals. The Tigers have outscored their opponents, 47-18.