Pettit Scores Twice as Dawgs Roll to 5-0 Win Against MVSU

Tuesday, September 7

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

5-1-0

Mississippi Valley State

0-5-0

Miss. Valley State

MSU

Kim Pettit Nominated For SEC's McWhorter Post-Graduate Scholarship

Pettit Scores Twice as Dawgs Roll to 5-0 Win Against MVSU

September 07, 2010 | Soccer

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Junior Kim Pettit scored two of Mississippi State's four first-half goals Tuesday night as the Bulldogs rolled to a 5-0 win against Mississippi Valley State at the newly-renovated MSU Soccer Field.

The Dawgs, who won their fourth-straight match to improve to 5-1, pounded 21 shots in each half to finish the night with 42, one shy of matching the school's single-game record. State's seven assists tied for the fifth-most in a game, while the five-goal differential landed just outside the top five.

“We've been talking about putting in a full 90 minutes, and we did that tonight,” MSU head coach Neil Macdonald said. “I thought we saw leadership from our entire team, not just our seniors and captains. I'm really proud of the effort our team put forth tonight.”

The Bulldogs took the first 18 minutes to breakdown the Delta Devilette defense, but they broke through at the 18:59 mark and managed to find the back of the net four times over the remainder of the half.

MSU's four first-half goals were the most in a single half since Sept. 14, 2008, when the Dawgs struck five times in an 8-0 win against Nicholls State.

Sophomore Zehra Syed opened the scoring barrage with her first career goal. The Indian Springs, Ala., native received an Ashley Hood service over the top of the defense and deposited it into the upper-right part of the net.

Madison McKee continued her stellar sophomore season in the 27th minute, giving the Dawgs a 2-0 lead as she scored a Danielle Kite pass for her third goal of the year.

Pettit closed the half by netting goals in the 29th and 33rd minute. Just four days removed from her first collegiate goal, the Madison, Miss., native scored on a Rachel Wannek free kick that deflected off Delta Devilette goalkeeper Shelby Willcocks at the 28:47 mark.

“I couldn't be happier for Kim. She works so hard every single day in practice and is very committed to the program and her teammates,” Macdonald said. “It was great to see her score two great goals tonight.”

Pettit struck again four minutes later on a Bulldog corner kick, one of three in the opening half. Taylor Turnipseed deflected the kick to Pettit, and she beat Willcocks from point-blank range to put MSU up 4-0 and give the Mississippi State a multiple-goal scorer for the second-straight match.

“The two goals tonight were mainly from following the play,” Pettit said. “Andy (Manners) always talks to us about following shots and getting to it when the goalkeeper fumbles it, and that's what I was trying to do.”

Wannek, who netted five points on two goals and an assist in last Sunday's win against South Alabama, added her third goal of the year in the 54th minute. Jasmine Simmons crossed a ball to Elisabeth Sullivan, who in turn dropped a pass to Wannek in front of net for the 5-0 MSU. Wannek's three-point night gives the Woodstock Ontario, native eight points in the last two matches.

The Bulldogs were able to turn up the offensive heat thanks to a stellar defensive effort that held MVSU to just two shots on the night.

Both of the Delta Devilettes' shots were stopped by sophomore goalkeeper Skylar Rosson as she turned in her third shutout in four matches.

Tuesday night's match was Mississippi State's first on the newly-renovated MSU Soccer Field. The playing surface underwent an extensive renovation over the summer, getting a state-of-the-art sand-based playing field that includes new underground drainage and irrigation systems.

“We are very grateful to our administration for giving us this quality surface to play on,” Macdonald said. “Our team played some quality soccer on it tonight, and it is a first-class playing surface.”

The Dawgs stay on the home pitch Friday, hosting Jackson State at 7 p.m. Admission to all MSU home soccer matches is free.

Miss. Valley State (0-5-0) vs. MSU (5-1-0)
Date: Sep 07, 2010 Attendance: 235
Weather:

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Miss. Valley State.. 0 0 - 0
MSU................. 4 1 - 5

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 18:59 MSU Zehra Syed (1) (Morganne Grimes;Ashley Hood) - ball over the top of the defense.
2. 26:03 MSU Madison McKee (3) (Danielle Kite) - ball over the top. 1-v-1 goal.
3. 28:47 MSU Kim Pettit (2) (Rachel Wannek) - off goalkeeper deflection on free kick.
4. 32:56 MSU Kim Pettit (3) (Taylor Turnipseed) - ball deflected off corner kick.
5. 53:32 MSU Rachel Wannek (3) (Elisabeth Sullivan;Jasmine Simmons) - off cross. Ball played into middle from point-blank range.

Shots: Miss. Valley State 2, MSU 42
Saves: Miss. Valley State 15 (Shelby Willcocks 13; Team 2), MSU 2
(Skylar Rosson 2)
Bulldogs finish with school second-most 41 shots.