Count on Her: Betty Ann Casey’s Career of Consistency
August 31, 2019 | Soccer
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – Betty Ann Casey broke into the box with nothing left between her and the net but the goalkeeper. The Bulldog forward buried the shot for Mississippi State's third goal of the day.
Just 53 seconds later she was face-to-face with the keeper again as she lined up a penalty kick.
"I remember when coach told me to take the PK, I was like 'Again? I'm not one of your top five PK takers, but okay.' It was just such an adrenaline high."
She buried it.
In the fall of 2003, Casey's pair of goals against Jacksonville State would stand as the third-fastest back-to-back nettings in program history. The then-sophomore's goals remain the fastest pair by the same player in MSU's record book.
A forward from Coral Springs, Florida, Casey would lead MSU in points, goals, shots and shots on goal in that year and again the following two seasons. But while she still ranks fifth all-time in points and fourth all-time in goals, the start of her Bulldog career didn't go as planned.
Originally from New Jersey before moving to Florida in high school, Casey first visit to Starkville got off to a rocky start. She was stranded in the Atlanta airport at 16 years old when her flight was cancelled. Luckily another Bulldog recruit Heather Amman was also stuck in the airport that night. The pair must've hit it off pretty well as they would end up being roommates throughout their careers.
"We jumped in this very sketchy van and drove to the middle of Atlanta where we stayed in a hotel," Casey said. "Slept in our clothes and then we get on a flight to Jackson. I just remember seeing red clay everywhere, and I was like 'Where am I?'. I had no idea what I was getting myself into."
It was a rocky start, but 24 hours later as she prepared to return to Florida, Casey's mind was made up. She would be a Bulldog.
"The community, the family, the culture and the atmosphere sold me," she said.
Casey averaged just 46 minutes per game as a freshman, registering nine points. By the time conference play began, she had begun to play a more pivotal role, scoring twice and picking up an assist against SEC foes.
Her sophomore season was a breakout year. Casey led the team with six goals, including two game-winners. One of those game-winners lifted the Bulldogs to a 1-0 victory against No. 25 Missouri. Later that year when State upset No. 6 Florida, a game that remains the Bulldogs' highest-ranked win, Casey provided the assist on the game-winning goal.
As a junior Casey had earned a regular spot in the MSU lineup. She played all 21 games as MSU advanced to the SEC Tournament and collected 14 points. Casey again scored six goals as a senior, bringing her career total to 20. She finished the season with a career-best 15 points.
While she may not have scored the crucial goal, she was almost always involved in the play leading up to it. Casey registered six game-winning assists, third-most in MSU history. Of the 28 games the Bulldogs won from 2002-05, she scored or assisted on the game-winning goal in nine (32 percent).
Despite never having a top-10 season in goals, assists or points, Casey remains in the top five for her career in all three categories. Her career was built on consistent play and stepping up in important moments.
"[It's] the drive to want to be successful," Casey said. "It was like a well-oiled machine for four years. That's one thing that I think has really helped me in life as a coach, but also as a sister, a friend. The consistency and the ability to continue no matter what. I wasn't the easiest teammate or player. I think all of my coaches would tell you that, but they all had faith, accountability and effort into me."
Casey went on to a successful career in the Women's Professional Soccer League with Miami Kickers F.C. She was named All-Sunshine Conference in 2008 after leading the league in points that year in addition to Offensive Player of the Year honors and six weekly MVP honors.
When her playing days ended, she took up coaching, serving as an assistant at Southern Miss and landing head jobs at Southwest Mississippi Community College and the University of the Southwest.
As she closes that chapter of her life, she looks back on her time in Starkville fondly.
"I'm ready to get back there," Casey said. "I love Starkville. I feel like it's my home. I'd love to settle down there at some point and become a part of the community again. Because it was such a big part of my life, I'd love for it to be a part of my daughter's life and my family's life. It impacted me."
She still makes it out to games and has had a few conversations with head coach James Armstrong and his staff.
"The institution has really put some tremendous effort into making it an equal sport," she said. "Each year they're adding value to every aspect. It's an honor for them to want to include the alumni and past players so much. I think with all that said, it's got to do with their love for being a Bulldog.
"As a coach and former coach, I know that phone doesn't turn off until 11:30 p.m. Each coach does one last check on their phone each day. I'm thankful for that, because with that last check, they're not only checking on their players, but they're continuously trying to make the program better."
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
STARKVILLE – Betty Ann Casey broke into the box with nothing left between her and the net but the goalkeeper. The Bulldog forward buried the shot for Mississippi State's third goal of the day.
Just 53 seconds later she was face-to-face with the keeper again as she lined up a penalty kick.
"I remember when coach told me to take the PK, I was like 'Again? I'm not one of your top five PK takers, but okay.' It was just such an adrenaline high."
She buried it.
In the fall of 2003, Casey's pair of goals against Jacksonville State would stand as the third-fastest back-to-back nettings in program history. The then-sophomore's goals remain the fastest pair by the same player in MSU's record book.
A forward from Coral Springs, Florida, Casey would lead MSU in points, goals, shots and shots on goal in that year and again the following two seasons. But while she still ranks fifth all-time in points and fourth all-time in goals, the start of her Bulldog career didn't go as planned.
Originally from New Jersey before moving to Florida in high school, Casey first visit to Starkville got off to a rocky start. She was stranded in the Atlanta airport at 16 years old when her flight was cancelled. Luckily another Bulldog recruit Heather Amman was also stuck in the airport that night. The pair must've hit it off pretty well as they would end up being roommates throughout their careers.
"We jumped in this very sketchy van and drove to the middle of Atlanta where we stayed in a hotel," Casey said. "Slept in our clothes and then we get on a flight to Jackson. I just remember seeing red clay everywhere, and I was like 'Where am I?'. I had no idea what I was getting myself into."
It was a rocky start, but 24 hours later as she prepared to return to Florida, Casey's mind was made up. She would be a Bulldog.
"The community, the family, the culture and the atmosphere sold me," she said.
Casey averaged just 46 minutes per game as a freshman, registering nine points. By the time conference play began, she had begun to play a more pivotal role, scoring twice and picking up an assist against SEC foes.
Her sophomore season was a breakout year. Casey led the team with six goals, including two game-winners. One of those game-winners lifted the Bulldogs to a 1-0 victory against No. 25 Missouri. Later that year when State upset No. 6 Florida, a game that remains the Bulldogs' highest-ranked win, Casey provided the assist on the game-winning goal.
As a junior Casey had earned a regular spot in the MSU lineup. She played all 21 games as MSU advanced to the SEC Tournament and collected 14 points. Casey again scored six goals as a senior, bringing her career total to 20. She finished the season with a career-best 15 points.
While she may not have scored the crucial goal, she was almost always involved in the play leading up to it. Casey registered six game-winning assists, third-most in MSU history. Of the 28 games the Bulldogs won from 2002-05, she scored or assisted on the game-winning goal in nine (32 percent).
Despite never having a top-10 season in goals, assists or points, Casey remains in the top five for her career in all three categories. Her career was built on consistent play and stepping up in important moments.
"[It's] the drive to want to be successful," Casey said. "It was like a well-oiled machine for four years. That's one thing that I think has really helped me in life as a coach, but also as a sister, a friend. The consistency and the ability to continue no matter what. I wasn't the easiest teammate or player. I think all of my coaches would tell you that, but they all had faith, accountability and effort into me."
Casey went on to a successful career in the Women's Professional Soccer League with Miami Kickers F.C. She was named All-Sunshine Conference in 2008 after leading the league in points that year in addition to Offensive Player of the Year honors and six weekly MVP honors.
When her playing days ended, she took up coaching, serving as an assistant at Southern Miss and landing head jobs at Southwest Mississippi Community College and the University of the Southwest.
As she closes that chapter of her life, she looks back on her time in Starkville fondly.
"I'm ready to get back there," Casey said. "I love Starkville. I feel like it's my home. I'd love to settle down there at some point and become a part of the community again. Because it was such a big part of my life, I'd love for it to be a part of my daughter's life and my family's life. It impacted me."
She still makes it out to games and has had a few conversations with head coach James Armstrong and his staff.
"The institution has really put some tremendous effort into making it an equal sport," she said. "Each year they're adding value to every aspect. It's an honor for them to want to include the alumni and past players so much. I think with all that said, it's got to do with their love for being a Bulldog.
"As a coach and former coach, I know that phone doesn't turn off until 11:30 p.m. Each coach does one last check on their phone each day. I'm thankful for that, because with that last check, they're not only checking on their players, but they're continuously trying to make the program better."
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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