Bulldogs Fight to the Finish with Alabama, Come to a 1-1 Draw

Friday, September 25

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

0-0-2, 0-0-2

#15 Alabama

1-0-1, 1-0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Alabama	1	0	0	0	1
Mississippi State	0	1	0	0	1

Hailey Farrington-Bentil against Alabama in Starkville, 9/25/2020

Bulldogs Fight to the Finish with Alabama, Come to a 1-1 Draw

September 25, 2020 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Farrington-Bentil scored to tie it up with one second left in regulation.

By: Madelon Allen, Assistant Coordinator/Communications

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State soccer team embodied one of their core values on Friday night, 'grit' as they fought to the finish against Alabama, ending in a 1-1 tie in double overtime.

The Bulldogs (0-0-2, 0-0-2) pushed back against the Tide (1-0-1, 1-0-1) as junior forward Hailey Farrington-Bentil tied it up with one second left on the clock in regulation.

"Obviously, disappointed not getting the result tonight," said head coach James Armstrong. "Definitely much improved from last week on both sides of the ball. Any team that scores with one second left to go shows how much fight that team has and how much believe they have in one another. Lots to work on, but overall a much-improved performance from last week."

The lineup looked a little different against Alabama, with newcomers Macey Hodge and Marcella Cash earning their first starting nods. Onyi Echegini got the preliminary shot off in the game, but it was Alabama who found the back of the net first, just four minutes into the first half. State went on the attack just after, with captain Alyssa D'Aloise leading the charge. Just minutes in, the fight was on. The Bulldogs took two corners, while three fouls were called on the Tide, including a yellow card just after netminder Maddy Anderson recorded her first save of the night.

The battle continued into the second half, with the Mississippi State defense putting in work early on. Anderson got her second save of the night just three minutes in, and it didn't stop there. Shot after shot came from Alabama, but the Bulldog forwards changed the direction of the ball with 10 minutes to go. A corner kick and then a shot by D'Aloise started the ball rolling for State. A slew of substitutions occurred, two fouls on State were called, but Cash and Farrington-Bentil found themselves in proximity with the goal.

"Marcella went into a tackle and the ball came out," said Farrington-Bentil. "I took a touch, and I kind of blacked out after that. I knew the net was behind the goalie, so I kicked it to the side of her."

She took that shot with just one second on the clock, with the clamor of cowbells cheering her on.

The Bulldogs moved into the first overtime with a foul from Alabama coming mere seconds after the horn sounded. Cash took a shot, but it would go wide right. A second yellow was assessed to Alabama, turning into a red. Tensions were high as Niah Johnson took the free kick, but kicked it straight to the netminder. Double overtime saw two Alabama shots, and they would finish the match in a draw.

Bulldog Bites

It was the first athletic event on campus in 201 days.
Three newcomers saw minutes for the first time.
It was Farrington-Bentil's first goal of the season, her fourth career goal.

Next Up

The Bulldogs will travel to Oxford, Mississippi to take on Ole Miss for the Magnolia Cup on Oct. 2. The match will start at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPNU.

For more information about the Mississippi State soccer team, search "HailStateSOC" on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.