Bulldogs Win High-Scoring Match at Memphis, 5-2

Thursday, August 23

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

3-0

Memphis

2-1

Mississippi State

Memphis

Carly Mauldin's penalty kick gave MSU an insurance goal.

Bulldogs Win High-Scoring Match at Memphis, 5-2

August 23, 2018 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Mississippi State made its shots count in a 5-2 win at Memphis on Thursday night. The Bulldogs took six shots, putting all on frame and all but one in the net.

The scoring started early, with senior Brooke McKee scoring in the second minute. Freshman Zakirah McGillivary beat her defender into the box then dropped a short pass back to McKee for the strike. The goal extended the Bulldogs' streak of scoring in the first five minutes to five straight matches.

"Anytime you score five goals in a game, it's rare, especially against an outstanding team," head coach Tom Anagnost said. "Memphis is a fantastic team. I thought they outplayed us for a big part of that game, but our kids hung in. We got good contributions in key moments."

At halftime, McKee's shot was States only attempt, but redshirt senior Rhylee DeCrane had stood strong with five saves.

State picked up two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. In the 52^nd minute, freshman Miranda Carrasco dribbled up the wing before passing to junior MaKayla Waldner at the top of the box. Waldner placed a perfect strike from just outside the box over the top of the leaping goalkeeper.

The Bulldogs earned a corner in the 56^th minute, but the initial shot attempt was blocked. After a scramble for the ball in the box, sophomore AK Ward pushed home a rebound from just outside the left post.

"That's just an awesome goal for us," Anagnost said. "I thought that goal went in three times, and finally, it went in. We stuck with it. It's a great character goal. I love those goals."

Down 3-0, Memphis wouldn't go away. The Tigers scored off a cross in the 60^th minute and put a free kick past DeCrane in the 65^th minute to pull within one goal of State.

"It wasn't pretty," Anagnost said. "I don't think we played that well, and we still won the game. I think that's a sign of a very good team, especially a young team. We can mature and learn a lot from this game."

MSU earned a penalty kick in the 75^th minute, which Carly Mauldin would take. The senior shot the ball to the right side and scored with the keeper diving left.

In the 81^st minute, freshman Zakirah McGillivary won a race to a loose ball for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. She fired the shot low and to the right for her first career goal. McGillivary picked up three points including her earlier assist on McKee's goal.

The Bulldogs have now started 3-0-0 for the second straight season. State will travel to Mobile, Alabama, on Sunday. Kickoff against South Alabama is set for 1 p.m. CT.

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."