Offensive Barrage Leads Bulldogs To Senior Day Victory

Sunday, September 3

Starkville

11:00 AM

Mississippi State

5-0-0

Colgate

1-4-0

Colgate

Mississippi State

Offensive Barrage Leads Bulldogs To Senior Day Victory

September 03, 2017 | Soccer

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – It didn't take long for the Mississippi State soccer team to set the tone on Sunday.

The Bulldogs (5-0) scored its first of six goals just 40 seconds into the contest as State downed Colgate (1-4) 6-2 at the MSU Soccer Field on Senior Day. The goal was the third-quickest opening goal in program history.

"It just makes such a big difference," MSU coach Tom Anagnost said of the early score. "Our players have done really well in the last two games of executing and being opportunistic in those moments and I give them all the credit."

After the initial goal, the Maroon and White went up 2-0 on an own goal by Colgate after a ball off the foot of Mallory Eubanks was kicked straight into the net by a defender in the fourth minute.

State went up 3-0 on the first of two goals by A.K. Ward on a header assisted by Khalyn Harmon in the 18th minute. Ward found the net again in the 29th minute on an assist by Mallory Eubanks and Brooke McKee to put MSU up 4-0.

"I think we really executed on the things we worked on this week in practice," Ward said.

Colgate answered in the 32nd minute with a goal by Abby Sotomayor. Sotomayor scored again in the 33rd minute on a penalty kick to narrow MSU's lead to 4-2.

The Bulldogs responded with two more goals—this time by Gracie East. The Mobile, Ala., native scored MSU's fifth first half goal in the 41st minute.

East scored again in the 86th minute on a header assisted by Carly Mauldin and Sam Blanchard.

"We maintained a high tempo from the very start of the game," East said. "That definitely gave us an advantage over [Colgate].

In goal, Catalina Perez recorded her fifth win of the year—a career best, while hauling in a season-best five saves.

State outshot Colgate 25-10 while winning the shots on goal battle 12-7. The Bulldogs also outcornered the Raiders 6-3.

The six goals scored were the most by a Bulldog squad since scoring eight goals in a win against Nicholls State on Sept. 14, 2008. The two goals each scored by East and Ward was the first time an MSU player scored two goals in a match since Red Bruffett two scores in a win against No. 20 Kentucky on Oct. 11, 2015.

Next Up For MSU

The Bulldogs will head to the Sunshine State to take on South Florida at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 7, before returning home to host South Alabama on Sunday, Sept. 10, in the final match before beginning Southeastern Conference action.

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."