Own Goal Gives MSU 1-0 Win Against Southern Miss

Sunday, September 4

Hattiesburg, Miss.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

4-2

Southern Miss

3-1

Mississippi State

Southern Miss

Ari Holmes' throw in results in own-goal win

Own Goal Gives MSU 1-0 Win Against Southern Miss

September 04, 2016 | Soccer

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – With a record crowd in attendance, the Mississippi State soccer team (4-2-0) handed Southern Miss (3-1-0) its first loss of the season as the Bulldogs won, 1-0, to cap the road weekend with a pair of wins.

The deciding score came in the 50th minute on Sunday, as senior Ari Holmes launched a throw in that bounced off a USM player for the own goal.

"Sunday road games are the toughest ones on your schedule and we came away with a win this afternoon," head coach Aaron Gordon said. "We knew Southern Miss would be ready for this game and we told our players to be ready for their best. After Friday's double overtime game we used our depth and it came up big for us. I'm very pleased with how we've performed this weekend and this season, we did what we set out to do in non-conference play but we're not done yet."

Following a double-overtime win against South Alabama on Friday, the Bulldogs were on short rest coming into Sunday. The fresh Golden Eagles on the other hand had Friday off after their game was cancelled with Alcorn State.

To begin the contest, MSU shook up the starting XI as junior McKenzie Adams, sophomore Courtney Tompkins and freshman McKenna de Graaf all earned their first starts of the season. The two clubs fought to a scoreless half in the first 45 minutes, as MSU held an 8-2 shot advantage.

Five minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs got onto the board as Holmes sent a corner-kick style throw into the box. Her throw in passed over goalkeeper Brittany Taylor's hands, as the ball hit the ground and bounced off a USM defender's leg into the goal.

"On the throw I knew I needed to get it deep in there, so I literally threw it as far as I could. I tried to throw it to California," Holmes said. "USM's girls were unprepared and they put it in the back of the net, so I was very happy. I wanted to count it as my goal, but they said I couldn't"

With the lead in hand, the Bulldogs outlasted the Golden Eagles as the two teams finished the game just as the sun was setting, which was key since the USM Soccer Complex doesn't have lights.

Bulldogs Claim Winning Record In Non-Conference Play:
The Maroon and White have earned four wins, while only losing twice in non-conference play. Only one win has come at home, while three have been earned the hard way on the road. The Bulldogs turned in an undefeated record in non-conference road play for the first time since 2009 (3-0).

Tompkins Earns Clean Sheet:
Pivotal in the win was the performance of MSU's defense, led by goalie Tompkins. The sophomore collected six saves as she earned her first start since Oct. 23, 2015 (LSU). The clean sheet was Tompkins second of her career, with her first coming against No. 20 Kentucky last season (3-0).

Goal Scoring Rundown:
MSU – (50:45) On a throw in from the corner kick area, senior Ari Holmes launched a ball that hit a USM player as it found the back of the net. The own goal was enough to seal the win.

Up Next:
Following the Sunday game against USM, the Bulldogs will return home as MSU kicks off a three-game homestand that begins with Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. CT.

Additional Notes:

MSU's three non-conference wins on the road are the most since 2009
The 4-2-0 mark is the best record to start a season since 2012
State is 7-2-2 all-time against Southern Miss after the 1-0 win
MSU used 20 players in Friday's game against the Jaguars
Khalyn Harmon, Ari Holmes, Carly Mauldin, Courtney Robicheaux and Courtney Tompkins played the full 90 minutes
Freshman Johanna Hamblett is the only freshman to start all six games for MSU
Sunday's crowd of 950 broke the USM Soccer Complex attendance record