Southern Miss Opens 2026 Soccer Season Under New Coach at Alabama State

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The University of Southern Mississippi women’s soccer team will open its 2026 season Thursday night at Alabama State. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central Time at the ASU Soccer Complex in Montgomery.

Head coach Danny Owens, who arrived in Hattiesburg after 20 seasons at William Carey University, leads the Golden Eagles in his first season. Owens, recognized as one of the top coaches in NAIA soccer, was hired in December to rebuild the program and establish a winning culture.

During his final year at William Carey, Owens led the Crusaders to a 20-2-1 record, a No. 5 final ranking in the Coaches Top 25 Poll, and an SSAC conference tournament championship. His teams advanced to the NAIA National Tournament 16 times, winning the national title in 2018 and reaching four Final Fours overall. Over his career, Owens has compiled 18 winning seasons, 12 conference titles, and 11 tournament championships.

Thursday’s game serves as the first test for Owens’s rebuilding efforts. The team completed its preseason with home matches against Pearl River Community College and Jackson State on August 9. The non-conference schedule aims to develop team chemistry and establish playing identity before Sun Belt Conference play begins September 18 at home against James Madison.

Alabama State is led by second-year head coach Alicia Wilson. Her roster features international players from Japan, Norway, Ecuador, and Nepal, along with about 10 returning student-athletes from 2025. The Hornets held preseason scrimmages against the University of Mobile and Southern Union to prepare for Thursday’s opener.

This marks the first recent meeting between Southern Miss and Alabama State. The game represents a new chapter for both programs as they start their 2026 campaigns.

Source: Original Article