Mississippi State
5-7-1, 1-3-1
South Carolina
9-4-1, 1-3-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 1 | OT 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MSU Soccer Battles To 0-0 Tie With No. 28 South Carolina
October 12, 2007 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State (5-7-1, 1-3-1 SEC) battled hard against No. 28 South Carolina (9-4-1, 1-3-1 SEC), and despite each team having numerous scoring chances, the teams fought to a 0-0 tie, Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
"I was very happy with tonight's performance," said MSU head coach Neil MacDonald. "I felt that towards the end we started to gain momentum, and could have stolen it from them. Our back four were outstanding, and our strikers got better as the game went on. But, overall, I was very pleased."
Mississippi State had the first scoring chance 12 minutes into the game. After Bethany Frazier dribbled up the middle, she passed off to Ashley Hood in the left corner. Hood sent the ball towards the front of the net, but Brittiny Rhoades cleared it out of the zone.
State had another chance off a corner kick at the 19 minute mark. South Carolina goalkeeper Laura Armstrong punched the corner kick away, but Hood was right there to head the ball toward the right corner. However, Armstrong made the diving save, keeping the game scoreless.
The Gamecocks first chance came with seven minutes left in the first half. Off a corner kick, MSU attempted to clear the ball. But, Ashley Kirk ended up with it 20 yards in front of the net, and fired a shot on goal. However, MState netminder Taryn Holland made the diving stop, knocking the ball away and keeping the game scoreless heading into halftime.
At the half, South Carolina outshot the Bulldogs, 5-3, with Holland making three saves.
USC came out in the second half and took the play to Mississippi State, keeping MSU on its heels in the defensive zone.
The Gamecocks seemed to take the lead in the 63rd minute. Erin Sullivan took a shot from 35 yards out. Holland made the leaping save, knocking the ball into the crossbar, allowing Leah Loguidice to score on the rebound. However, Loguidice was called for offsides, and the teams played on.
South Carolina again had a chance to win with four minutes remaining. After a Mississippi State foul, Ashley Kirk had a free kick from 15 yards away, but her shot went wide of the net, and the teams headed to overtime.
State had a chance to end it four minutes into the first overtime. Frazier sent a long pass up the middle to Ferguson, who headed the ball to Hood. Hood took a sliding shot, but back-up goalie Lindsay Thorstenson made the save.
Mississippi State was outshot 21-9. Holland made nine saves on the night.
Mississippi State closes out its home stand on Sunday. MSU will host Florida at 12 p.m. (CT), before road matches with No. 20 Georgia and No.14 Tennessee next weekend.
