Bulldogs Knock Off SEC Champion Auburn, 2-0
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- Mississippi State got a pair of second half goals from Ngum Suh, then rallied behind an unbreakable defense, to knock off 2002 SEC Champion and nationally-ranked Auburn, 2-0, in the final spring contest for both teams Saturday evening in Orange Beach, Ala.
"Tonight's game was intense and a wonderful spectacle for the fans," said Mississippi State head coach Neil McGuire. "Each team played with a great deal of passion, and the game could have gone either way. I admire Coach Hoppa as she always has her team well prepared and tonight I thought we did a very good job in dealing with their offensive threats.
"I am proud of, and happy for, our players who finally saw the fruits of all their labor this spring. This is the best team performance we have had in some time, and hopefully this will give us the boost we need to ready ourselves for the fall season."
Auburn got some early chances in the first half, using high pressure on set pieces to try and find a hole in the Bulldog defense, but the backline of MSU ? Kristen Benefield, Morgan McDonald, Emily Meyers and Karen Sandrik ? were unyielding and stifled each Tiger attempt at the nets. The Bulldogs got a pair of shots from Betty Ann Casey in first half action, but neither seriously threatening. Elke D'Hollander nearly broke the tie midway through the first period, but her 30-yard cannon shot was corraled by second team all-SEC goalkeeper Megan Rivera to keep the game tied at zero.
Suh broke the deadlock just minutes into the second stanza, outjumping the Auburn defense on a corner serve from Meghan Odom and drilling a header into the corner of the net for the 1-0 advantage. Auburn came within inches of netting the Equalizer with 20 minutes remaining, but Karen Sandrik hustled to clear a ball off the MSU endline and save the shutout. Auburn attempted to retaliate again shortly thereafter but, each time, was stifled by the MSU defense, further adding to the Tiger frustration.
With just less than 14 minutes remaining in the match (76:40), Sandrik played a brilliant through ball to Suh and, after outracing one player and outmuscling another, gave the Maroons an insurance goal with a rifle shot past Rivera.
"We must thank the City of Orange Beach for hosting this event," McGuire said. "Their facilities are first class, and they do a wonderful job of showcasing the sport of soccer. We look forward to the opportunity to return here for the fall 2003 SEC tournament."
The victory completed an impressive winning spring campaign for the Bulldogs. With seven spring games, State faced their toughest spring schedule ever. The maroons managed four shutouts, and surrendered just five goals. State will next be in action on Aug. 29 when the club travels to Memphis, Tenn., for a 7 p.m. contest against the Memphis Tigers to open the 2003 regular season.