Mississippi State
2-0
Morehead State
1-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead State | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mississippi State | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Alvarado Header Lifts MSU Soccer To Thrilling 3-2 Win Over Morehead State
August 30, 2009 | Soccer
• Official Statistics
• Official Statistics (PDF)
OXFORD, Miss. - Mississippi State freshman Monica Alvarado's header in the 64th minute lifted the Mississippi State soccer team to a 3-2 win over Morehead State Sunday morning at the Ole Miss Nike Invitational in Oxford, Miss.
The Bulldogs also got goals from sophomore Tarah Henderson and freshman Rachel Wannek to improve to 2-0 on the season. Morehead State fell to 1-3.
Alvarado's game-winner, her second in as many matches, earned her all-tournament honors along with Wannek and fellow rookie Jasmine Simmons.
The deciding goal came off a pass from Serena Prendergast on one of State's three corner kicks, and it came just four minutes after Bethany Davidson put Morehead on the scoreboard with a goal from 25 yards away.
"I was very pleased with our effort today. Morehead State is a well-organized, well-coached team, so it was a very tough game," MSU head coach Neil Macdonald said. "We attacked and broke them down very well at times, but we also made some mistakes. I felt that both of their goals were off of our mistakes. With this being just our second match, we got a little fatigued, but our players never gave up and picked up a big win."
The Alvarado score proved big as 17 seconds later, the Lady Eagles' Jillian Birchmeier scored to cut the MSU lead to 3-2. State's defense, led by Taryn Holland's eight saves, stiffened the remainder of the match to preserve the win. Holland's stellar outing moved her seven stops shy of matching the school's career record.
The thrilling final 45 minutes came after the Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half.
The game's opening goal came nine minutes in when Simmons sent a free kick into the box that Henderson headed past Morehead goalkeeper Lily Meisner.
Henderson nearly had her second goal of the match on a breakaway at the 25:21 mark, but she was fouled in the box to give State its second penalty kick in as many matches. Wannek converted the kick to push MSU's lead to 2-0.
The Bulldogs return to action next weekend, traveling to South Alabama on Friday and Northwestern (La.) State on Sunday.
Morehead State (1-3) vs. Mississippi State (2-0)
Date: Aug 30, 2009 Attendance: 120
Weather: 70 degrees, overcast skies
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Morehead State...... 0 2 - 2
Mississippi State... 2 1 - 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 9:09 MSU Tarah Henderson (1) (Jasmine Simmons) - Header from 5 yards off free kick
2. 25:21 MSU Rachel Wannek (2) Penalty kick
3. 59:37 MOR DAVIDSON, Bethany (1) (unassisted) - From 25 yards over keeper
4. 63:34 MSU Monica Alvarado (2) (Serena Prendergast) - Header off long diagonal cross
5. 63:51 MOR BIRCHMEIER, Jillian (2) (PHILLIP, Sarah) - from 8 yards to near post
Shots: Morehead State 15, Mississippi State 14
Saves: Morehead State 3 (MEISNER, Lily 3), Mississippi State 8 (Taryn Holland 8)
Team Stats
Tarah Henderson (1)
Assisted By: Jasmine Simmons
Header from 5 yards off free kick
9:09
Rachel Wannek (2)
MSU Rachel Wannek PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 2 for season.
25:21
DAVIDSON, Bethany (1)
From 25 yards over keeper
59:37
Monica Alvarado (2)
Assisted By: Serena Prendergast
Header off long diagonal cross
63:34
BIRCHMEIER, Jillian (2)
Assisted By: PHILLIP, Sarah
from 8 yards to near post
63:51
