HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss soccer (1-2-2) hosts Southern (1-3) on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Marshall Bell Track & Field/Soccer Complex. The Golden Eagles aim to secure their first home victory after two draws at home and road losses at McNeese and Mississippi State, according to university officials.
Southern Miss returned home after a tough road stretch and earned back-to-back draws, including a 1-1 tie with Jacksonville State. Coach Mohammed El-Zare’s team scored first and created chances to win but was unable to find the decisive goal. The team remains unbeaten at home but has yet to record a victory on its home field, making Sunday’s match an opportunity to break that streak, officials said.
Southern arrives in Hattiesburg seeking its first road win of the season. The Jaguars are 0-1 on the road after a 0-4 loss to Florida Gulf Coast and a defeat at SMU. They defeated Spring Hill 3-1 at home but have struggled offensively away from home, failing to score in three away games. Keilyn Pittman has scored two goals this season but has yet to produce consistently outside of home games, sources said.
Southern Miss’s offense has been balanced, with Ava Bynes leading with three goals in five matches. Ryan Smith has added a goal and two assists, while Werema and Edwards each scored once. The team’s overall offensive distribution and home-field advantage give the Golden Eagles confidence heading into Sunday’s game, officials added.
Following the match, Southern Miss will travel to Thibodaux to face Nicholls on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex. Fans are encouraged to follow the team on Twitter (@SouthernMissSOC) and Instagram (@southernmisssoccer) for updates.
