Hamblett’s Second-Half Score Propels MSU to 1-0 Win

Friday, September 30

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

6-6, 1-4

Alabama

7-4-1, 2-2-1

Alabama

Mississippi State

Hamblett scores to give MSU 1-0 win.

Hamblett’s Second-Half Score Propels MSU to 1-0 Win

September 30, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Box Score Photo Gallery

STARKVILLE, Miss. – In front of an electric crowd on Friday night, the Mississippi State soccer team (6-6-0, 1-4-0 SEC) earned its first win in Southeastern Conference play as the Bulldogs shutout visiting Alabama (7-4-1, 2-2-0 SEC) 1-0.

The winning-goal for MSU came just 36 seconds into the second half, as freshman Johanna Hamblett knifed her way through the Alabama defense to score on a Kennadi Carbin cross.

"SEC wins are huge and we earned one tonight," head coach Aaron Gordon said. "Our practice this week was phenomenal, in terms of preparation, and this is the performance I felt we've been capable of all season. I'm proud of our team for stepping up and answering the challenge."

The win for MSU in Starkville was its first against the Tide since Oct. 5, 2007, while the road loss in conference was Alabama's first of the season. With the 1-0 victory, Gordon's squad has now beat Bama in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-2005.

In the first half of play both teams were held in check on offense, as the game entered the break with no score. Bama led in shots (5-1), shots on goal (3-1) and corners (3-0) in the first 45 minutes.

The scoreless drought for MSU wouldn't last long however, as freshman Hamblett struck just 36 seconds into the second half. Sophomore Carbin played it beautifully into the box on the score as Hamblett raced in to slide her shot just underneath Alabama's goalkeeper Kat Stratton. The goal was Hamblett's second of the season and just the 10th allowed for Stratton on the year.

"Kennadi made a really good run up the line and I just ran into the box to get something on it," Hamblett said following the game. "I just caught the ball with the end of my toe and luckily it went under the keeper. It feels so great to finally get an SEC win at home because we've been playing so hard. We have tough games still ahead, so we have to just keep training and playing our best."

With the 1-0 lead, MSU's defense would stave off seven Alabama shots while goalkeeper Tanya de Souza collected five saves in the clean sheet effort. The shutout for De Souza was her second of the season.

International Success
Two of Friday night's heroes are oversea products as France native de Souza turned in a clean sheet and New Zealander Hamblett earned the game-winning goal. On the season the duo has been huge for State with de Souza collecting the fourth most saves in the SEC and Hamblett tying the team-lead in goals for the Maroon and White.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
MSU – (45:36) Sophomore Kennadi Carbin played a ball into the box as Johanna Hamblett slid in for the score as her shot rolled just under the Alabama goalkeeper.

Up Next
The Bulldogs welcome No. 5 South Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 6 as the Maroon and White caps its two-game homestand. The game between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks is set for a 7 p.m. CT kick and will be the first ranked opponent to visit Starkville this season.

Additional Notes:

The goal for Johanna Hamblett was her second of the season, while the assist for Kennadi Carbin was her first of 2016
Eight Bulldogs went the distance on Friday, as Tanya de Souza, Mallory Eubanks, Johanna Hamblett, Ari Holmes, Emily Malone, Carly Mauldin, Courtney Robicheaux, Hannah Smith played the full 90 minutes
The 90 minute contest for Malone was a career-high for the freshman
Freshman Johanna Hamblett is the only freshman to start all 12 games for MSU
MSU has defeated Alabama now in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-2005
With six games still to be played, head coach Aaron Gordon has won a career-high six games with the Bulldogs this season
A total of 909 fans were in attendance for Friday night's game