Wannek's Big Second Half Leads Bulldogs to 3-1 Win, Trojan Classic Title

Sunday, September 5

Troy, Ala.

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

4-1

South Alabama

1-4

MSU

South Alabama

Wannek's Header Gives MSU Fifth-Straight Win

Wannek's Big Second Half Leads Bulldogs to 3-1 Win, Trojan Classic Title

September 05, 2010 | Soccer

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

TROY, Ala. – Two second-half goals from Rachel Wannek lifted the Mississippi State soccer team to a 3-1 win against South Alabama and the Trojan Classic championship Sunday afternoon in Troy, Ala.

Wannek was involved in all three goals as the Bulldogs (4-1) broke a 1-1 halftime tie and claimed their third-straight victory. USA fell to 1-4 on the year.

State claimed the tournament championship, its third-straight going back to 2008, thanks to Troy's 5-2 win against Austin Peay in the tournament's final match.

Wannek also added an assist to finish the afternoon with five points, tying her for sixth-most in single-game history. Her quartet of points was also the most by a Bulldog since Kevyn Shelledy's five-point showing against Nicholls State at the 2008 South Alabama Tournament in Mobile, Ala.

“I thought Rachel scored two good goals inside the box today,” Mississippi State head coach Neil Macdonald said. “She worked hard through the course of the game and showed the potential she has as a Division I player.”

Wannek fired six of State's season-high 21 shots in the match. The Bulldogs also put 14 of their attempts on target. USA managed just nine shots, with six of those coming between the posts.

State freshman Elisabeth Sullivan gave MSU the early lead as she connected on her second goal of the season, a 24th-minute strike. Zehra Syed found Wannek in the center of the field, and she proceeded to slip the ball between defenders to Sullivan, who punched the ball into the net for the 1-0 Mississippi State advantage.

State's defense stifled the Jaguars' attack most of the first half, but a turnover in the midfield led to the Jaguars' Brandi Smith hitting the equalizer with 28 seconds left.

Mississippi State came out with an increased intensity in the second half, and it paid off 16 minutes in as Wannek gave the Dawgs the lead for good with her first goal of the season. Freshman Morganne Grimes worked the ball to senior Leanna Baldner, who served a ball over the top of the defense to Wannek for the game-winning goal.

“I thought at times we played quite well, but we still haven't put in a full 90 minutes of work,” Macdonald said. “I thought we came out much better in the second half, creating and scoring a couple of good goals. This is another step leading up to SEC play, so we have to continue improving in every area of the field.”

Baldner found Wannek again just 28 seconds later for State's final goal, the fourth-fastest time between goals in MSU history. The Meridian, Miss., native lifted a free kick into the box, and Wannek put the ball past Melissa Drish for a 3-1 lead.

MSU sophomore goalkeeper Skylar Rosson stopped five shots in the winning effort. The Bulldog defense turned in a stellar defensive effort all weekend, with Grimes and Baldner earning all-tournament honors.

The Bulldogs return to the home pitch for a pair of matches against Southwestern Athletic Conference foes. State hosts Mississippi Valley State at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and Jackson State comes to town for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday.

MSU (4-1) vs. South Alabama (1-4)
Date: Sep 05, 2010 Attendance: 60
Weather: sunny, 85 degrees, 0% precipitation

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
MSU................. 1 2 - 3
South Alabama....... 1 0 - 1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 23:52 MSU Elisabeth Sullivan (2) (Rachel Wannek;Zehra Syed)
2. 44:36 USA Brandi Smith (Clarissa Hernandez)
3. 61:40 MSU Rachel Wannek (1) (Morganne Grimes;Leanna Baldner)
4. 62:08 MSU Rachel Wannek (2) (Leanna Baldner)

Shots: MSU 21, South Alabama 9
Saves: MSU 5 (Skylar Rosson 5), South Alabama 11 (Melissa Drish 7;
TEAM 4)