Venue Changed For Soccer's Magnolia Cup
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Friday evening's inaugural playing of Mississippi's Magnolia Cup, soccer's version of the Egg Bowl and Mayor's Trophy game, has been altered from its regularly scheduled venue in Jackson to Starkville and the Mississippi State Soccer Field.
Mississippi State and intra-state rival Mississippi will battle under the lights of the MSU Field on Friday at 6 p.m. for a traveling trophy. The game will mark the first of its kind for collegiate soccer in the state of Mississippi. It will mark the first evening competition of any kind at MSU's home stadium. Installation of lights was completed at the facility following the conclusion of the 2002 season.
"The spring has gone very well for us thus far," said Mississippi State head coach Neil McGuire. "We have worked extremely hard while putting a system in place that we can understand as well as execute. We are very much looking forward to this weekend. This will be a start of a great tradition between two very good soccer programs and, as always, we would love to have great fan support."
The Rebels defeated the Bulldogs, 4-1, in the final conference game for both teams during the fall season. State and UM were locked at one apiece at the halftime break before the Rebels erupted for three second half goals. The Maroon and White's last victory over the Cardinal Red and Navy Blue was in 2001 when the Bulldogs clinched the SEC Western Division championship with a 2-1 double overtime thriller in Oxford.
Any teams or individuals interested in serving as ball persons for Friday evening's contest at the MSU Soccer Field should contact assistant coach Robin Confer at (662) 325-0204.