The State Standard: Elisabeth Sullivan’s Record-Setting Career
August 27, 2019 | Soccer
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – A two-time All-SEC selection, Elisabeth Sullivan rewrote the Mississippi State record book over four years in Starkville. The forward from Memphis, Tennessee, led the Bulldogs in points and goals every season and holds State's career records in both categories.
Sullivan joined the Bulldogs in 2010 after a standout career for both Briarcrest Christian High School, where was twice an all-state selection, and the Lady Lobos '92 club team, where won a Tennessee state championship.
In her debut against UT-Martin, she picked up an assist on the game-winning goal. That would be just the beginning as she finished the campaign with six goals and five assists. Her 17 points rank fourth in school history among freshmen. She closed the season the way she started it with a game-winning assist against Ole Miss in the season finale to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
As a sophomore, she earned her first tournament MVP award for her play in the Bulldog Classic where she registered two more game-winning assists. Sullivan also led the Bulldogs to an upset against No. 12 Florida, finding the net just 37 seconds into the match for the second-fastest goal in school history. The win marked State's highest ranked win since defeating No. 8 Tennessee six years prior.
Sullivan excelled even more in her junior campaign, leading the SEC in shots and goals per game while ranking fourth in points and goals. Her 1.40 points per game and 28 points are both fourth in single-season history. She posted a five-point effort in a win against Alabama and became MSU's first double-digit goal scorer since 2001.
For her play she was named second team All-SEC and earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week after a two-goal performance against Ole Miss. Her game-winner against the Rebels was the 23rd goal of her career, breaking the MSU school record. Sullivan is one of just three Bulldogs along with Emily Meyers and Zakirah McGillivary to earn multiple conference weekly honors.
Sullivan came back even stronger as a senior with a 34-point season while averaging a school-record 1.89 points per game. She also broke the Bulldogs' single-season records for goals (16), shots (88) and shots on goal (60). The forward earned All-SEC recognition once more, becoming the first Bulldog to earn multiple all-conference honors since Meredith Riekert in 1995 and 1997.
A model for consistency both on and off the field, Sullivan was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year of her career. She left Starkville as MSU's all-time leader in points (92), goals (39), shots (256), shots on goal (155) and game-winning assists (8). Sullivan posted a program-record eight multi-goal games and set the record for the longest scoring streak, finding the net in six straight matches across her junior and senior seasons.
To close her career, she earned the distinction of becoming the first Bulldog selected in the NWSL Draft, when she was taken in the fourth round by the Portland Thorns. Sullivan made her professional debut on May 10, 2014, as a substitute against the Seattle Reign.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
STARKVILLE – A two-time All-SEC selection, Elisabeth Sullivan rewrote the Mississippi State record book over four years in Starkville. The forward from Memphis, Tennessee, led the Bulldogs in points and goals every season and holds State's career records in both categories.
Sullivan joined the Bulldogs in 2010 after a standout career for both Briarcrest Christian High School, where was twice an all-state selection, and the Lady Lobos '92 club team, where won a Tennessee state championship.
In her debut against UT-Martin, she picked up an assist on the game-winning goal. That would be just the beginning as she finished the campaign with six goals and five assists. Her 17 points rank fourth in school history among freshmen. She closed the season the way she started it with a game-winning assist against Ole Miss in the season finale to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
As a sophomore, she earned her first tournament MVP award for her play in the Bulldog Classic where she registered two more game-winning assists. Sullivan also led the Bulldogs to an upset against No. 12 Florida, finding the net just 37 seconds into the match for the second-fastest goal in school history. The win marked State's highest ranked win since defeating No. 8 Tennessee six years prior.
Sullivan excelled even more in her junior campaign, leading the SEC in shots and goals per game while ranking fourth in points and goals. Her 1.40 points per game and 28 points are both fourth in single-season history. She posted a five-point effort in a win against Alabama and became MSU's first double-digit goal scorer since 2001.
For her play she was named second team All-SEC and earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week after a two-goal performance against Ole Miss. Her game-winner against the Rebels was the 23rd goal of her career, breaking the MSU school record. Sullivan is one of just three Bulldogs along with Emily Meyers and Zakirah McGillivary to earn multiple conference weekly honors.
Sullivan came back even stronger as a senior with a 34-point season while averaging a school-record 1.89 points per game. She also broke the Bulldogs' single-season records for goals (16), shots (88) and shots on goal (60). The forward earned All-SEC recognition once more, becoming the first Bulldog to earn multiple all-conference honors since Meredith Riekert in 1995 and 1997.
A model for consistency both on and off the field, Sullivan was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year of her career. She left Starkville as MSU's all-time leader in points (92), goals (39), shots (256), shots on goal (155) and game-winning assists (8). Sullivan posted a program-record eight multi-goal games and set the record for the longest scoring streak, finding the net in six straight matches across her junior and senior seasons.
To close her career, she earned the distinction of becoming the first Bulldog selected in the NWSL Draft, when she was taken in the fourth round by the Portland Thorns. Sullivan made her professional debut on May 10, 2014, as a substitute against the Seattle Reign.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
Players Mentioned
F
/ SoccerSOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Players Media Session
Wednesday, September 24
SOCCER | Highlights vs. Auburn
Sunday, September 21
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Players Press Conference vs Auburn
Sunday, September 21
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Player Media Session
Wednesday, September 17