Mississippi State
1-3
Jackson State
0-2
Sullivan's Goal Carries Bulldogs To Road Victory At Jackson State
September 02, 2011 | Soccer
JACKSON, Miss. - Sophomore Elisabeth Sullivan's second-half goal, her first strike of the season, carried Mississippi State to a 1-0 win against Jackson State Friday afternoon in Jackson, Miss.
The win gives Mississippi State a 1-3-0 record heading into next weekend's home opener. The Bulldogs were scheduled to play Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on Sunday, but the tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico forced that match to be rescheduled for 4 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 13 in Hattiesburg.
Sullivan's winner came in the 76th minute when she stole an errant Jackson State pass and broke through the defense. The Memphis, Tenn., native made a move past JSU goalkeeper Taylor Emerson and put the ball into the net from point-blank range.
The strike was the seventh of Sullivan's career and her first game-winning goal.
State out-shot the Tigers (0-2-0) 28-8, but posted only a one-shot advantage in on-goal opportunities. Head coach Neil Macdonald's team equally distributed the shots, firing 14 times in each half.
"I am proud of our girls for battling and getting the win. An away win is an away win, but I didn't think we played as well as we could have," Macdonald said. "We are capable of playing much better than we did today, so we have to get back to work and get ready to put on a couple of strong showings at home next weekend."
With the offense peppering shots at a rapid pace, Mississippi State's stifling defense made Sullivan's goal stand, limiting JSU to just two shots over the game's final 14 minutes.
Junior goalkeeper Skylar Rosson made five saves in the match as she posted the fourth shutout of her career.
The Bulldogs broke through in the game's final stretches after seeing several opportunities on the cloudy, windy afternoon just miss target.
State's first attempt came at the 11:08 mark in the opening half. Junior Jasmine Simmons sent one of State's 10 corner kicks into the six-yard box. Freshman Shannen Jainudeen's shot was blocked by Emerson, who made five saves, and the ball deflected in the air to Sullivan for a header that sailed just high of the crossbar.
In the 25th minute, freshman Amy Hoover went for her second goal of the season, but her attempt from distance was turned back by Emerson. Sullivan had another opportunity two minutes later, but Emerson once again made the save.
State started finding its offensive rhythm after the defense staved off some early challenges by the Tigers. The first came just two minutes in on a shot by Alexandra Goutier that Rosson managed to save. Five seconds later she turned away a Liana Knight attempt from the right side.
The Edmond, Okla., native made another save in the fourth minute as she tipped a Shahamin Nunes attempt over the top of the goal. Rosson's third stop of the opening half came at the 37:30 mark as she deflected a Micashea Bailey attempt.
Mississippi State put together four shots in the opening half's final 10 minutes, and the Dawgs continued the assault in the second half.
One minute into the final stanza, Simmons hit a shot just high of the target. Three minutes later Jainudeen put a head on a corner kick, but the rookie was unable to angle it past Emerson.
Simmons had an effort stopped by Emerson in the 54th minute, and another hit the post in the 64th.
After allowing five shots in the opening half, the Bulldogs limited Jackson State to just three attempts in the final stanza, including just one attempt between the posts.
With the rescheduling of Sunday's match, the Dawgs now return to action with next weekend's home-opening Bulldog Classic that includes Lipscomb, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the Golden Eagles. State challenges Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m. Friday before wrapping the tournament against Lipscomb at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Mississippi State (1-3) vs. Jackson State (0-2)
Date: Sep 02, 2011 Attendance: 300
Weather: Breezy, 80 degrees
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Mississippi State... 0 1 - 1
Jackson State....... 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 75:37 MSU Elisabeth Sullivan (unassisted) - goal keeper came out from box
Shots: Mississippi State 28, Jackson State 8
Saves: Mississippi State 5 (Skylar Rosson 5), Jackson State 5
(EMERSON,Taylor 5)
Team Stats
Elisabeth Sullivan
goal keeper came out from box
75:37
