Rebels Slip By State To Take Inaugural Magnolia Cup, 1-0
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Kelly Renie's goal in the 70th minute broke a 0-0 deadlock and visiting Mississippi (6-1) bunkered down the rest of the way out as the Rebels proved victorious in the inaugural Magnolia Cup with a 1-0 victory over Mississippi State (2-3) Friday evening at the Mississippi State Soccer Field.
Betty Ann Casey fired off three knocks to pace five Bulldogs with at least one shot in the contest, while Vicksburg native Courtney Hubert recorded four saves on 10 shots in the nets for the Maroon and White. Kristal Menard and Brittney Potts each collected two shots for the Rebels.
The game -- much like football's Egg Bowl, baseball's Mayor's Trophy and men's tennis' Mississippi Cup -- was the first of its kind for collegiate soccer in the state of Mississippi. A traveling trophy was given to the victors which will be kept in the school's athletic department before the cup goes up for grabs again when the Bulldogs and Rebels meet again on October 31 at 7 p.m. in Oxford.
"In terms of our new system, we were very organized defensively," said Mississippi State head coach Neil McGuire. "We saw components of our offense briefly throughout the game. While I will give credit to Ole Miss for winning the game, I must give credit to our players as well. It was a great soccer match."
The teams traded blows for much of the first half, with Mississippi getting the better end of the shot total and taking a slight advantage into the half. The Rebels nearly took a first half lead in the 38th minute (7:31) but Hubert left her feet to deflect a rifle shot from Laura Price out of danger.
State nearly took the first lead of the contest in the 66th minute (65:06), but Casey's shot across the goal mouth hit the woodwork and careened out of danger. Minutes later, Renie came inches from an offsides call and worked the ball in front of Hubert, before hitting a ball over the diving keeper at the 69:59 mark. Amy Van Zandt nearly matched the goal in the 79th minute (78:59), but her long range shot sailed inches above the crossbar.
Mississippi State will return to action on April 12 when the team plays in its annual Alumni Game as part of Super Bulldog Weekend festivites. Kickoff for the event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Mississippi State Soccer Field and admission is free.
MISSISSIPPI 1, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0
Mississippi 0 1 -- 1Mississippi State 0 0 -- 0
UM, 69:59: Kelly Renie (Unassisted)
Shots: UM 10 (Menard, Potts 2), MSU 7 (Casey 3). Saves: UM 2 (Gillespie 1), MSU 5 (Hubert 4). Fouls: UM 20, MSU 7. Offsides: UM 1, MSU 0. Yellow Cards: UM, Menard (Conduct, 51:59). Att. -- 463.