Echegini, Waldner Score as State Draws with LSU

Thursday, October 24

Baton Rouge, La.

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

7-7-2, 2-4-2

LSU

2-11-3, 0-6-2

Mississippi State

LSU

Echegini, Waldner Score as State Draws with LSU

October 24, 2019 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications

BATON ROUGE, La. – The final 73 minutes were a scoreless battle as Mississippi State and LSU fought to a 2-2 draw in Baton Rouge on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (7-7-2, 2-4-2 SEC) created 32 shots, the most since they fired 36 against Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 7, 2012. That was tied for ninth in program history. Onyi Echegini attempted 10 shots, becoming the first Bulldog to do so since MaKayla Waldner took 12 against Missouri in 2017.

"I couldn't be prouder of the girls in all honesty," head coach James Armstrong said "That was an unbelievable effort in difficult circumstances. This is always a tough place to play against a team fighting for their lives. We created a number of chances, but the roll of the green and the bounce of the ball didn't go our way. We'll get back to work tomorrow and look forward to the game on Sunday."

Echegini wasted no time putting the Bulldogs ahead. She opened the scoring with assists from Monigo Karnley and Olivia Hernandez in the third minute. The Tigers immediately answered, however, scoring just 43 seconds later with a volley off a cross.

LSU (2-11-3, 0-6-2 SEC) nearly took the lead in the 18^th minute, but Gabby English made an outstanding reaction save from point-blank range to snuff out a redirected cross. Echegini then beat her defender to a long service from Hailey Zerbel in the 23^rd minute, but her sharp angle shot was saved.

In the 25^th minute, Waldner received a pass just across midfield. She then dribbled the length of the pitch before taking a shot from the corner of the six-yard box. Waldner fired the ball into the upper back corner of the net for her ninth goal of the year, giving her 19 points on the season. That ties her sophomore year for the 10^th-most points in a single year in program history.

LSU added a second goal in the 38^th minute to tie the match. At the break, State held a 10-5 edge in shots. By the end of regulation, the Bulldogs had extended that to a 25-8 lead in shots. LSU's goalkeeper was forced to make seven saves in regulation.

The Bulldogs had two prime chances to win the match in the second half. In the 68^th minute, the Bulldogs sent in a flurry of shots as the box broke down into chaos following a corner kick. State managed six shots. Three were blocked, one was saved and one hit the post before the final ball was sent over the bar.

In the 87^th minute, Hailey Farrington-Bentil played a ball over the LSU back line where Echegini won the race to the ball. She took one touch to slip past the keeper, but the shot trickled over the end line just outside the left post.

State outshot the Tigers, 7-3, in overtime, but couldn't find the net. Andrea Tyrrell forced a save in the final seconds of the first period, but that was the only save in extra time. Along with Echegini's 10 shots, Waldner fired eight, and Tyrrell took four.

The Bulldogs will now return home for Senior Day against Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff against the Volunteers 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."