Waldner, Echegini Lift State Past Auburn on Thursday

Thursday, October 10

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

7-5-1, 2-2-1

Auburn

6-5-2, 3-2-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Auburn	1	1	2
Mississippi State	1	2	3

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Waldner, Echegini Lift State Past Auburn on Thursday

October 10, 2019 | Soccer

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by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications

STARKVILLE – MaKayla Waldner scored twice to push Mississippi State past Auburn with a 3-2 victory, giving the Bulldogs their first win in the series since 2011.

"Anytime you play in the SEC and pick up points, it's a bonus," head coach James Armstrong said. "When you're playing at home, you're looking to get the 3 points, and thankfully today we did. Auburn is flying high right now, so to get 3 extra points there and just moving on to the next one now."

Making her first career start, Onyi Echegini opened the scoring with the first goal of her career in the 22^nd minute. MaKayla Waldner laid the ball off to Monigo Karnley who found Echegini streaking down the right side. Echegini broke into the box and shot from about six yards out, placing the ball in the bottom corner of the goal. Her goal marked the Bulldogs first against Auburn since 2011.

Auburn answered on a free kick just 1:35 later in the match as Bri Folds struck from about 25 yards out. The Tigers took a lead early in the second half after picking off a pass between two Bulldog defenders in the 58^th minute.

The Bulldogs tied the match in the 64^th minute thanks to another Hailey Zerbel flip throw. Zerbel's throw approached the near post where Waldner flicked it on with a header from a sharp angle that found the corner of the net.

In the 88^th minute, Waldner found the net again. She outran her defender to a clearance, but was unable to win the race against the goalkeeper. However, as the keeper attempted to boot the ball away Waldner blocked the clearance and the deflection trickled into the goal.

"Typical Makayla Waldner, all heart and effort," Armstrong said. "We said we're playing against a very good Auburn team, and it was going to come down to little details, maybe just that little bit one percent extra. Makayla chasing that ball down, not being scared just running straight at it and obviously getting the rewards for her efforts."

Waldner now boasts 26 career goals, including 11 game-winners. Her 54 career points now move her into fifth on the Bulldogs' all-time leaderboard.

The Bulldogs held Auburn to just six shots with two on target. MSU fired 12 shots, putting five on frame. With the win, Armstrong boasts the best conference record of any Bulldog head coach through his first five matches. State is off to its best five-match start to conference play since 2002 and has posted three consecutive seven-win seasons for the first time in school history.

MSU will now travel to face No. 13/23 Arkansas in Fayetteville. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."