Mississippi State
3-5-3 (0-2-1SEC)
Alabama
6-3-2 (1-1-1SEC)
Simmons, Jainudeen Score as Bulldogs Tie Alabama 2-2
October 01, 2011 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Jasmine Simmons and Shannen Jainudeen each scored first-half goals as the Mississippi State soccer team played to a 2-2 tie against Alabama in the home SEC opener for the Bulldogs Friday night.
The game's four goals all came in the first half, as both defenses settled in and turned away several winning chances over the final 65 minutes.
The two teams combined for 29 shots in the contest, with the Crimson Tide claiming a 15-14 edge.
It was State that struck the first blow when Simmons netted her team-leading third goal of the season 2:48 in. Elisabeth Sullivan stole an Alabama pass on the backline and streaked toward the goal. Her shot was saved by UA goalie Shanna Brooks, but Simmons was there for the put-back.
Alabama tied the game in the 20th minute when Pia Rijsdijk's cross through the six-yard box slipped past a diving Skylar Rosson and found Kendall Khanna for her third goal of the year.
Rosson, MSU's junior goalie, stopped six shots in the game. Brooks stopped five of MSU's seven on-goal efforts.
The Crimson Tide broke the 1-1 tie at the 31:29 mark on a Theresa Diederich rebound. Rijsdijk's first attempt hit the crossbar, and Diederich put the follow-up in the back of the net for her fourth goal of the year.
MSU, however, answered with the equalizing strike 10 minutes before the halftime whistle. Sophomore Morganne Grimes delivered a ball over the top of the defense to Jainudeen, and she beat Brooks for her first-career goal.
"Our first half performance was good, especially the first 25 minutes," MSU head coach Neil Macdonald said. "I was proud of our team because we competed hard for 110 minutes. We had a couple of mental errors on their two goals, but it was a positive step forward against a good Alabama team."
After Rosson turned back a pair of Rijsdijk opportunities early in the second half, the Dawgs countered and found Simmons with 34:42 remaining in regulation. The Oklahoma City native raced for the loose ball, but Brooks snagged it just before she could get a foot on it.
Two minutes later, Brooks saved a Madison McKee header off a Bulldog free kick. Jainudeen had an opportunity to net her second goal of the night with 12 minutes remaining in regulation, but she sent her chance just high of the crossbar.
While they were creating scoring threats of their own, the Dawgs also held off a pair of late Alabama scoring threats. Rosson stopped a Rijsdijk shot at the 83:18 mark, and a minute later senior Serena Prendergast cleared the winning goal out of the empty net to send the match to overtime.
Neither team was able to muster any offense in the grueling extra two sessions, with Alabama claiming the lone shot over the final 20 minutes.
Mississippi State wraps the home weekend against No. 20 Auburn on Sunday. Kick-off for the match is set for 1 p.m. at the MSU Soccer Field, and fans are encouraged to arrive early and tailgate as the best setup will receive a tailgate package from The Lodge and a $25 Abner's gift card.
Alabama 6-3-2 (1-1-1 SEC) vs. Mississippi State 3-5-3 (0-2-1 SEC)
Date: Sep 30, 2011 Attendance: 655
Goals by period 1 2 OT O2 Tot
-------------------------------------
Alabama............. 2 0 0 0 - 2
Mississippi State... 2 0 0 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 2:48 MSU Jasmine Simmons (3) (Elisabeth Sullivan) - off turnover... First shot saved, Simmons with the follow.
2. 19:32 UA Kendall Khanna (3) (Pia Rijsdijk) - Cross across the box past diving keeper.
3. 31:29 UA Theresa Diederich (4) (Pia Rijsdijk) - Rebound off ball off crossbar.
4. 34:12 MSU Shannen Jainudeen (1) (Morganne Grimes) - ball over the defense.. Beat keeper to left post.
Shots: Alabama 15, Mississippi State 14
Saves: Alabama 5 (Shanna Brooks 5), Mississippi State 7 (Skylar Rosson
6; TEAM 1)
Team Stats
Jasmine Simmons (3)
Assisted By: Elisabeth Sullivan
off turnover... First shot saved, Simmon
2:48
Kendall Khanna (3)
Assisted By: Pia Rijsdijk
Cross across the box past diving keeper.
19:32
Theresa Diederich (4)
Assisted By: Pia Rijsdijk
Rebound off ball off crossbar.
31:29
Shannen Jainudeen (1)
Assisted By: Morganne Grimes
ball over the defense.. Beat keeper to l
34:12
