Wannek's Header Gives MSU Fifth-Straight Win

Friday, September 10

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

6-1-0

Jackson State

1-3-1

Jackson State

MSU

Wannek's Header Gives MSU Fifth-Straight Win

September 10, 2010 | Soccer

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Rachel Wannek's header in the 84th minute carried the Mississippi State soccer team to a 2-1 win against Jackson State Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.

State, playing its fourth match in an eight-day span, improved to 6-1-0 as it won its fifth-straight match. Jackson State fell to 1-3-1 on the year.

“The one positive about tonight was that we found a way to win despite not playing our best soccer,” Mississippi State head coach Neil Macdonald said. “We looked very tired tonight, and I think playing four games in eight days affected us.”

Wannek's game-winner, her second of the season and fourth goal overall, gives her 10 points in MSU's last three matches.

“It was good to get the win tonight. We moved faster, allowing Dani (Danielle Kite) to get open. She put a great ball in the box, and I just happened to be there. It was a great team effort,” Wannek said.

Senior Danielle Kite took the ball and sprinted up the right sideline. The Hornchurch, England, native fired a ball across the box to a wide-open Wannek for the header into the right side of the net.

Wannek's winner came 16 minutes after Liana Knight slipped past the MSU defense and scored the equalizer.

JSU finished the second half with two more shots after the Dawgs, the SEC shots leader, took a 14-5 shot advantage in the opening half to take a 1-0 lead to the intermission.

Freshman Elisabeth Sullivan scored her third goal of the season to give Mississippi State the initial lead at the 36:04 mark in the opening half.

The Bulldogs tried to hit the Memphis, Tenn., native with a pass over the top. The ball deflected off a JSU defender right to Sullivan, who fired the ball past the goalkeeper to give State a 1-0 lead that it would take to the half.

Jackson State put three attempts on goal in the first half, but had their best scoring opportunity turned away by stellar goalkeeping from freshman Abby Risner, who was seeing her first career action.

Risner deflected a JSU cross attempt, but the ball deflected to a Tiger with only a Bulldog defender standing on the line. Renner appeared to be on the way to getting Jackson State on the board, but Risner ran in and made the save.

Risner, a Bentonville, Ark., native, stopped five shots in her MSU debut.

State was just inches shy of another first-half goal in the 18th minute. Jasmine Simmons fired a ball inside the box that hit off the post. She recovered the rebound, but her follow-up attempt was snagged by JSU keeper Allison Lane, who stopped four shots.

The Bulldogs hit the road next weekend, traveling to Oklahoma State on Friday and Oral Roberts on Sunday.

Jackson State (1-3-1) vs. MSU (6-1-0)
Date: Sep 10, 2010 Attendance: 335
Weather:

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Jackson State....... 0 1 - 1
MSU................. 1 1 - 2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 36:04 MSU Elisabeth Sullivan (3) (unassisted) - ball deflected off defender, beat goalie on 1-v-1.
2. 67:19 JSU Liana Knight (Raycine Clarke)
3. 83:23 MSU Rachel Wannek (4) (Danielle Kite;Tarah Henderson) - header off cross

Shots: Jackson State 13, MSU 20
Saves: Jackson State 4 (Allison Lane 4), MSU 5 (Abby Risner 5)
JSU head coach red card at 84:53