The First One: Jennifer Croisant
December 12, 2019 | Soccer, HailStateBEAT
by Emma Warren, Student Assistant/Communications and Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – William B. Findley II picked up his phone and dialed. It was December 8, 1994, and Findley was about to make a historic call.
Jennifer Croisant, a highly-touted goalkeeper from Tulsa, Oklahoma, picked up the phone. With that, the fledgling Mississippi State soccer program's first recruiting call was underway.
A little more than a month later, Croisant was the Bulldogs' first guest to host on an official visit. A week later, she was MSU's first verbal commitment. She joined State for its inaugural season in 1995 following a four-year high school career that saw her win the 1993 Oklahoma state championship and earn selections to the Eastern Oklahoma Olympic Development team in seven straight years.
Wearing the No. 1 goalkeeper jersey, a fitting choice as State's first recruit, Croisant played every minute between the posts her freshman year, totaling to 1,620 minutes in 1995. She was one of only six players to start all 17 games.
She allowed just one goal in the first win in program history, a 3-1 decision against Mobile on Sept. 4. She also posted the first shutout in program history in a one-goal game at Memphis on Oct. 6. That victory marked the Bulldogs first road win and first win in program history over a NCAA Division I opponent.
The following day she blanked Arkansas-Little Rock at home and was awarded SEC Player of the Week honors for her efforts. Croisant posted four shutouts on the year and made 110 saves while facing 244 shots.
Entering the 1996 season, Findley described Croisant as "a solid goalkeeper who should respond well to a challenge for the position." With freshman Sarah Roberts behind her on the depth chart, Croisant excelled.
Croisant set a single-game record with 14 saves against Ole Miss and again against Arkansas three days later. Those marks remain tied for fifth-most in program history today. She started all but one match and collected 109 saves while posting a 9-5-2 record.
Along the way, Croisant blanked six opponents, setting a single-season record that would stand for seven years. Prior to the arrival of All-American Catalina Perez in 2017, she remained second in program history.
Her 1996 season remains in MSU's top-10 for saves (8th), save percentage (7th), goals against average (T-8th), wins (T-2nd) and shutouts (T-3rd). Over her two-year career, Croisant ranks second all-time averaging 6.44 saves per game. Her career .777 save percentage is fifth and her 16 wins are fourth.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
STARKVILLE – William B. Findley II picked up his phone and dialed. It was December 8, 1994, and Findley was about to make a historic call.
Jennifer Croisant, a highly-touted goalkeeper from Tulsa, Oklahoma, picked up the phone. With that, the fledgling Mississippi State soccer program's first recruiting call was underway.
A little more than a month later, Croisant was the Bulldogs' first guest to host on an official visit. A week later, she was MSU's first verbal commitment. She joined State for its inaugural season in 1995 following a four-year high school career that saw her win the 1993 Oklahoma state championship and earn selections to the Eastern Oklahoma Olympic Development team in seven straight years.
Wearing the No. 1 goalkeeper jersey, a fitting choice as State's first recruit, Croisant played every minute between the posts her freshman year, totaling to 1,620 minutes in 1995. She was one of only six players to start all 17 games.
She allowed just one goal in the first win in program history, a 3-1 decision against Mobile on Sept. 4. She also posted the first shutout in program history in a one-goal game at Memphis on Oct. 6. That victory marked the Bulldogs first road win and first win in program history over a NCAA Division I opponent.
The following day she blanked Arkansas-Little Rock at home and was awarded SEC Player of the Week honors for her efforts. Croisant posted four shutouts on the year and made 110 saves while facing 244 shots.
Entering the 1996 season, Findley described Croisant as "a solid goalkeeper who should respond well to a challenge for the position." With freshman Sarah Roberts behind her on the depth chart, Croisant excelled.
Croisant set a single-game record with 14 saves against Ole Miss and again against Arkansas three days later. Those marks remain tied for fifth-most in program history today. She started all but one match and collected 109 saves while posting a 9-5-2 record.
Along the way, Croisant blanked six opponents, setting a single-season record that would stand for seven years. Prior to the arrival of All-American Catalina Perez in 2017, she remained second in program history.
Her 1996 season remains in MSU's top-10 for saves (8th), save percentage (7th), goals against average (T-8th), wins (T-2nd) and shutouts (T-3rd). Over her two-year career, Croisant ranks second all-time averaging 6.44 saves per game. Her career .777 save percentage is fifth and her 16 wins are fourth.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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