Dawgs Dominate Shots in 0-0 Stalemate Against Arizona State

Sunday, August 20

Tempe, Ariz.

9:00 p.m.

Mississippi State

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Arizona State

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Mississippi St.

Arizona St.

Dawgs Dominate Shots in 0-0 Stalemate Against Arizona State

August 21, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score

By: Lance Pardue, Communications Fellow

TEMPE, Ariz. – In a fiercely competitive matchup that kept spectators at the edge of their seats, Mississippi State showcased its offensive attack by outshooting Arizona State 13-3, yet the scoreboard remained untouched in a 0-0 tie. The Bulldogs' impressive defensive effort significantly slowed down Arizona State's possession game, making it challenging for the Sun Devils to establish an offensive rhythm.

From the opening whistle, the Dawgs demonstrated their dominance in the attacking third by registering five shots on goal within the first 26 minutes, putting the Sun Devil's defense under considerable pressure. Arizona State, however, found their rhythm and managed to weather the storm, preventing any of those attempts from finding the back of the net.

State's defensive line effectively neutralized Arizona State's attempts, limiting them to zero shots through the first 61 minutes of play. The Dawg's commitment to defensive excellence was evident, and their efforts contributed significantly to maintaining possession and controlling the pace of the game.

Despite Arizona State's possession struggles, their resolute defense managed to keep MSU's attacking threats at bay for the majority of the contest. However, the Bulldogs intensified their pressure in the final twenty minutes of the game, launching a series of determined attacks.

The 70th minute saw a heart-stopping moment as Mississippi State nearly broke the deadlock when Bailey Wagenknecht sent a shot thundering off the goalpost. Just six minutes later, Maggie Wadsworth narrowly missed the target with a shot that sailed wide left, as the Dawgs' offensive intent became even more evident.

In the 82nd minute, it seemed as though Mississippi State had finally found the breakthrough when Aitana Martinez-Montoya found the back of the net. However, the celebrations were short-lived as the goal was disallowed via offsides, keeping the score level at 0-0.

Adding to the drama of the match were the weather elements that played a role in the proceedings. Strong winds at 21 mph added an additional layer of challenge, impacting the trajectory of the ball and influencing strategic decisions on the field. Rain made a dramatic appearance late in the contest, adding an unpredictable twist to the game's final moments.

In the end, despite State's dominant offensive display and the Sun Devil's solid defensive stance, the match concluded in a goalless draw.

Fifteen Bulldogs graced the pitch on Sunday night, with Macey Hodge, Alexis Gutierrez, Rylie Combs and Ruthny Mathurin playing the full 90' in the field.

Mississippi State Soccer will return to Starkville for their highly anticipated 2023 home opener when they face Northwestern State at 6:30 PM Thursday.

Quoting Head Coach James Armstrong
"We have to be super proud of the girls for the performance tonight versus a very good team in extremely different conditions. Returning home unbeaten was always the goal. Now we can look forward to getting back home and playing in front of our home fans. There is still a lot of work to do, but we have taken a positive step in the right direction."

For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSoc."

– HailState.com –