DeCrane Earns Seventh Shutout in Draw Against Florida

Friday, September 28

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

8-2-1, 1-2-1SEC

Florida

4-6-2, 2-1-1SEC

OT 3

OT 4

Florida

Mississippi State

Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics

DeCrane Earns Seventh Shutout in Draw Against Florida

September 28, 2018 | Soccer

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by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's soccer team snapped a five-match losing streak to Florida with a 0-0 draw on Friday night. Redshirt senior Rhylee DeCrane earned her seventh shutout of the year to tie the MSU single-season record.

The Gators took 20 shots, but only three required DeCrane to intervene. Both teams had plenty of chances, but of 35 combined shots, only five were on target.

"It was a tough game," head coach Tom Anagnost said. "Florida is a great team, they have good players all over the field, and they pass the ball so well. We definitely created chances in the game, and I think we had the best chances in the game. We have got to score one of those goals."

In the 43^rd minute, senior Carly Mauldin had an opportunity with the Gator goalkeeper still on the ground after punching a ball away from the net. Her shot nearly broke the tie, but sliced to the left of the post.

With two minutes to play, sophomore Kristen Malebranche shut down a Florida counterattack one-on-one without allowing the Gators to get a shot off. In the final seconds of the match, DeCrane made a routine save to send the game to overtime.

The Bulldogs got their best chance in the 93^rd minute with a free kick at the edge of the box. Freshman Laura Galceran stepped up to take the kick, but it was blocked by Florida's wall. The deflection came to senior Courtney Robicheaux who fired the ball over the crossbar.

MSU held on throughout the second overtime despite three off-target shots from Florida. With the draw, the Bulldogs moved to 1-2-1 in conference play.

"We bent, we didn't break," Anagnost said. "Again, there's a lot of growth areas for our team, things to learn from individually and collectively. All in all, I'm pleased with the effort. It's not a bad result against a very talented group."

State will now travel to Nashville, Tennessee on Oct. 4. The Bulldogs will kick off against No. 25/21 Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. CT.

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