Southern Miss Women’s Soccer Visits Nicholls Thursday Night

Hattiesburg, Mississippi — Southern Miss women’s soccer (2-2-2) travels to Thibodaux, Louisiana, for a 7 p.m. matchup against Nicholls (2-2-3) at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex. The game is the Golden Eagles’ final non-conference contest before Sun Belt Conference play begins next week, according to university officials.

Southern Miss enters the match unbeaten in its last three games, following draws against Southeastern Louisiana and Jacksonville State and an 8-0 win over Southern on Sunday. The team has scored 11 goals during this stretch and 15 through six matches overall. Coach Danny Owens’s squad has seen goals from nine different players, including Ava Bynes, who leads with three goals and seven points. Ryan Smith has added two goals and two assists.

The Golden Eagles have outshot opponents 88-68 and hold a 34-21 edge in corner kicks. They have allowed an average of 1.33 goals per game and recorded two shutouts this season.

Nicholls has scored 26 goals through seven matches, averaging 17.6 shots per game. Four players share the team lead with four goals each, led by Olyvia Pugh with 12 points from four goals and four assists. Alyssa Wheeler, Jezlyn Nelson, and Sammi Doyle also have four goals apiece.

The Colonels are unbeaten in their last two outings, including a 6-0 win over Louisiana Christian and a 1-1 draw at Prairie View A&M. Nearly two-thirds of their goals this season — 17 of 26 — have come after halftime.

This will be the 10th meeting between the programs. Southern Miss holds a 7-1-1 series advantage and has won the last five matchups. The Golden Eagles are 3-0-1 all-time in Thibodaux, with the most recent game a 6-0 victory in 2023.

Southern Miss opens Sun Belt Conference play against James Madison on Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. at Marshall Bell Track & Field/Soccer Complex. Fans can follow updates at SouthernMiss.com or on the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts (@SouthernMissSOC).

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