Bulldogs Kick Off Spring Season With 3-0 Win Over Minnesota
Ferguson, Casey, Ondra All Net Goals Behind Meyers' Shutout
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Treena Ferguson and Betty Ann Casey each scored goals seven minutes apart in the first half, and Emily Meyers recorded her first shutout of the Spring, as the Mississippi State soccer team blanked Minnesota, 3-0, at the Germantown Soccer Club Fury Challenge on Saturday afternoon in Memphis, Tenn.
Ferguson netted the first goal, albeit unofficial, of her collegiate career on a rebound off a Meghan Odom free kick in the fifth minute of play. Casey followed with a score of her own in the 12th minute of play, latching onto a through ball and beating a defender before rifling a shot past the Golden Gopher netminder.
Clutching onto the 2-0 lead on a brilliant performance from Meyers in goal, State cushioned their advantage out to three in the 55th minute of play when Casey delivered a perfect cross to Heidi Ondra who finished with the one-timer to provide the final.
The first half performance was as good a performance that I have ever seen a Mississippi State team play, said Bulldogs head coach Neil Macdonald. We won the first and second ball consistently and we did a great job of creating space for our forwards. We got behind (Minnesota) a number of times.
We also got a phenomenal performance from our back four who set the tone of the game by winning the ball on a consistent basis as well.
Mississippi State will continue its Spring competition on Saturday when the Bulldogs head to Birmingham, Ala., to take on 2004 NCAA Tournament qualifier UAB at West Campus Field. Kickoff is set for noon.
SCORING SUMMARY (At Memphis, Tenn.) Germantown Soccer Club Fury Challenge MINNESOTA 0 0 - 0 MISSISSIPPI STATE 2 1 - 3 5' * Treena Ferguson (Meghan Odom)
12' * Betty Ann Casey (Unassisted)
55' * Heidi Ondra (Betty Ann Casey)