Hats Off to Shannen Jainudeen
December 16, 2019 | Soccer, HailStateBEAT
by Breana Norton, Student Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – Just a dozen minutes into an early September match, Shannen Jainudeen stole the ball at the edge of the goal box and banked a shot off the inside of the post to begin what would become a historic day.
Jainudeen came out for a quick start in the second half as well, again scoring an unassisted goal less than 10 minutes after kickoff. As the clock ticked into the 64th minute, the Scarborough, Ontario, native received a pass in the center of the box and fired it home.
She'd done it. After entering play with just two career goals, Jainudeen had recorded the seventh hat trick in school history. In the five years since that day, no Bulldog has matched her single-game output, and the feat served as a fitting touch to cap a tremendous career.
Long before she arrived in Starkville, Jainudeen had starred on the national stage. Her club team won a silver medal in the Canadian National Tournament, and she joined Canada's national team system in 2008. The defender went on to earn a spot on the Canadian U17 National Team, winning the CONCACAF championship and qualifying for the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in 2010.
"It helped me transition better, coming to State," Jainudeen said of her international experience. "Playing for that high level, you need commitment, determination, and confidence. Once I came in my freshman year, I knew what I had to do. I had to get in that starting lineup and stay in the starting lineup."
That's precisely what she did. As a freshman, she started all 19 matches and played every minute of every match. She led the 2011 team with 1,794 minutes, which ranks sixth in MSU's single-season record book, and second among all freshmen.
"I was pretty shy my freshman year and didn't really talk much," she said. "As the years went on, I became a leader and was vocal. My teammates looked up to me. I just became independent, and juggling soccer with school helped me grow."
Along with three SEC Academic Honor Roll selections, Jainudeen had matured into an offensive threat by her senior year. In a breakout 2014 campaign, she would rewrite the record book. She led the team with 15 points and seven goals, which is tied third and second, respectively, among all Bulldog seniors.
In a new role as a forward, Jainudeen scored more than half of MSU's goals while leading the team in shots (41) and being one of just two players to land double-digit shots on goal (19). She nearly doubled her career point total in her final season after tallying just eight in her first three years.
Jainudeen closed her career with 23 points, second-most by a defender in program history. Defensively, she was part of 13 shutouts, including a six-match run of consecutive shutouts in 2012 that stands as the longest streak in program history.
"The soccer program at Mississippi State meant a lot," she said. "I would go back and do another four years if I had them."
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
STARKVILLE – Just a dozen minutes into an early September match, Shannen Jainudeen stole the ball at the edge of the goal box and banked a shot off the inside of the post to begin what would become a historic day.
Jainudeen came out for a quick start in the second half as well, again scoring an unassisted goal less than 10 minutes after kickoff. As the clock ticked into the 64th minute, the Scarborough, Ontario, native received a pass in the center of the box and fired it home.
She'd done it. After entering play with just two career goals, Jainudeen had recorded the seventh hat trick in school history. In the five years since that day, no Bulldog has matched her single-game output, and the feat served as a fitting touch to cap a tremendous career.
Long before she arrived in Starkville, Jainudeen had starred on the national stage. Her club team won a silver medal in the Canadian National Tournament, and she joined Canada's national team system in 2008. The defender went on to earn a spot on the Canadian U17 National Team, winning the CONCACAF championship and qualifying for the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in 2010.
"It helped me transition better, coming to State," Jainudeen said of her international experience. "Playing for that high level, you need commitment, determination, and confidence. Once I came in my freshman year, I knew what I had to do. I had to get in that starting lineup and stay in the starting lineup."
That's precisely what she did. As a freshman, she started all 19 matches and played every minute of every match. She led the 2011 team with 1,794 minutes, which ranks sixth in MSU's single-season record book, and second among all freshmen.
"I was pretty shy my freshman year and didn't really talk much," she said. "As the years went on, I became a leader and was vocal. My teammates looked up to me. I just became independent, and juggling soccer with school helped me grow."
Along with three SEC Academic Honor Roll selections, Jainudeen had matured into an offensive threat by her senior year. In a breakout 2014 campaign, she would rewrite the record book. She led the team with 15 points and seven goals, which is tied third and second, respectively, among all Bulldog seniors.
In a new role as a forward, Jainudeen scored more than half of MSU's goals while leading the team in shots (41) and being one of just two players to land double-digit shots on goal (19). She nearly doubled her career point total in her final season after tallying just eight in her first three years.
Jainudeen closed her career with 23 points, second-most by a defender in program history. Defensively, she was part of 13 shutouts, including a six-match run of consecutive shutouts in 2012 that stands as the longest streak in program history.
"The soccer program at Mississippi State meant a lot," she said. "I would go back and do another four years if I had them."
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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