Mississippi State
Georgia
Bulldogs Fall 4-3 To Georgia In Two-Overtime Thriller
October 07, 2011 | Soccer
ATHENS, Ga. - Jasmine Simmons, Elisabeth Sullivan and Tarah Henderson scored goals and Skylar Rosson made a school-record 19 saves, but the Maroon & White was unable to hold on as Georgia rallied for a 4-3, double-overtime win Friday night at the UGA Soccer Stadium.
The heart-breaking defeat dropped Mississippi State to 4-6-3 overall and 1-3-1 in SEC play, while Georgia's rally improved the SEC East Bulldogs to 9-4 and 3-2 in the league.
"Our team played brilliantly tonight," MSU head coach Neil Macdonald said. "I thought we picked up where we left off against Auburn, but, unfortunately, we just couldn't hold on for the win. Our girls fought and played great soccer tonight. Georgia is a top-class team, and our girls battled them very hard tonight. It's great to see how much our team has grown up this season."
The wild match saw State go in front 2-0 in the match's opening 15 minutes. MSU took that advantage to halftime before adding a Jasmine Simmons penalty kick in the 65th minute.
The Dawgs were unable to hold on, however, as Alexa Newfield hit a pair of penalty kicks and Jenna Owens scored in the 81st minute.
The host Bulldogs hit the winner in the 103rd minute on an Ashley Miller strike.
Rosson ended the match with 19 saves, bettering the school record set by Kirstin Olson in 1998. The Edmond, Okla., native also moved into the career top five, passing Krystal Werges for fifth all-time.
Mississippi State gave Rosson and the defense the lead five minutes in. Sullivan collected a loose ball that deflected off a Georgia player and fired it past Baker from the right side. The goal, the third of the season for the Memphis native, marked the second time in three matches that MSU struck in the opening five minutes.
State extended the lead to 2-0 nine minutes later. MSU's Dana Forbes flicked a pass to Madison McKee, who chipped a ball over the Georgia back line. Henderson and Baker arrived at the ball simultaneously, but it popped away from the UGA keeper right to Henderson for her second goal of the year.
MSU took the lead to halftime thanks to a stellar defensive effort that saw Rosson stop 13 of UGA's opening-half attempts.
State missed an opportunity to add a third goal in the 23rd minute of the first half. Simmons passed a corner kick back to Serena Prendergast. The Brandon, Miss., native chipped a ball into the 18-yard box that found freshman Shannen Jainudeen, but the freshman defender was unable get a solid foot on the point-blank shot and Baker made the save, one of five in the game.
The Maroon & White threatened again early in the second half on a Sullivan service to Henderson. The Martinez, Ga., native made a run to the end line, but she was unable to angle the ball past Baker.
Mississippi State managed to notch its season-best third goal with just over 24 minutes left. Junior Madison McKee had a ball poked away in front of the UGA six-yard box, and she was fouled from behind to earn State's first penalty kick of the season.
Simmons took the penalty kick and buried it into the left side of the net to put the Maroon & White in front 3-0. The goal was her fourth of the year, a career high for the Oklahoma City native.
Just when it appeared the Bulldogs were on the way to the win, Georgia began a furious rally in front of the home crowd. With 18:50 left in the match, a handball called against Mississippi State earned UGA a penalty kick. Newfield sent the kick into the left side of the net, just past the out-stretched fingers of Rosson.
Owens cut the Mississippi State lead to 3-2 10 minutes later as she snuck a shot from 18 yards out just inside the left post.
Rosson made a fantastic diving stop on a Torri Allen equalizing opportunity, but minutes later she dove to claim a loose ball and collided with a Georgia player. A foul was called, giving Georgia its second penalty kick of the match.
Newfield went to the same location she did on the first attempt, and once again she just managed to beat a diving Rosson to tie the match 3-3.
Sullivan nearly had the winning attempt on her foot late, but the service over the top of the UGA defense was claimed by Baker just before she could get a foot on it.
Neither team was able to strike in the first 10-minute extra session, but Miller took a 104th-minute pass from Newfield and sent it past Rosson for the winner.
The Bulldogs close the weekend against 15th-ranked Tennessee on Sunday. Kickoff from Knoxville is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Mississippi State 4-6-3 (1-3-1) vs. Georgia 9-4-0 (3-2-0)
Date: Oct 07, 2011 Attendance: 1815
Weather: Warm and sunny
Goals by period 1 2 OT O2 Tot
-------------------------------------
Mississippi State... 2 1 0 0 - 3
Georgia............. 0 3 0 1 - 4
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 4:24 MSU Elisabeth Sullivan (3) (unassisted) - deflected off defender, into bottom
2. 13:16 MSU Tarah Henderson (2) (Madison McKee;Dana Forbes) - played a deflection into empty net
3. 65:33 MSU Jasmine Simmons (4) Penalty kick
4. 71:05 UG Alexa Newfield (10) Penalty kick
5. 81:48 UG Jenna Owens (1) (Ashley Miller) - fired into near post from corner 18
6. 85:44 UG Alexa Newfield (11) Penalty kick
7. 103:02 UG Ashley Miller (4) (Alexa Newfield) - fed into space, sent at near post
Shots: Mississippi State 11, Georgia 42
Saves: Mississippi State 20 (Skylar Rosson 19; TEAM 1), Georgia 5
(Ashley Baker 5)
