University of Texas El Paso (7-0-0) scored three goals in the second half of play to overcome a lead by Mississippi State (0-2-2) and clinch the Sun City Invitational title with a 3-1 victory over the Maroon and White Saturday afternoon at University Field on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso.
The Lady Bulldogs were outshot in both halves, including a 14-5 shot margin in the second half.
Senior goalie Emily Meyers had a career high 15 saves for the Bulldogs on 18 shots by UTEP. The tally was one shy of a school record save total (16) turned in by Kirstin Olson on Sept. 27, 1998, at Alabama.
“Obviously, we need to do a better job of preparing ourselves for high quality opponents like this,” Mississippi State head coach Neil MacDonald said. “When we are battling adversity, as well as our opponent, we need to keep our composure and play our game. We didn’t do that today and the final stats told the whole story.”
State wasted little time in lighting up the east end scoreboard, using a pair of transition plays to put UTEP on their heels before junior midfielder Sara Moore assisted senior forward Betty Ann Casey on a scorcher to the far post in the 11th minute of play.
UTEP got a quality chance to score nearly 10 minutes later, but Meyers was up to the task and sent the opposition’s header over the crossbar.
UTEP used just more than six minutes of the second half clock to tie the score, using defensive miscues and miscommunication by the Lady Bulldogs in the penalty area. The Miners added an insurance goal deep in the game when Brandi Aston took control of a loose ball and fired a shot past Meyers that sparked UTEP head coach Kevin Cross into a victory dance on the near sideline that extended on to the field of play.
Sunday
Mississippi State (0-2-3) could not find the back of the net as the Lady Bulldogs and the Sacramento State Lady Hornets (2-3-1) battled to a scoreless tie in the final game of the Sun City Invitational Sunday afternoon.
Goalie Emily Meyers took sole possession of fourth place on the school’s all-time shutouts list with her sixth in two seasons.
“I thought we did a good job of battling today, and I was fairly pleased with a number of our players’ performances,” MacDonald said. “We have some things to work on in practice this week, but I feel things are starting to come along for us, especially with the play of our freshmen. They really stepped up this weekend in both games.”
State controlled much of the action through the first 45 minutes, including a pair of opportunities that nearly got MSU on the board. Freshman Bethany Frazier’s shot in the 22nd minute was barely deflected by Sacramento State goalkeeper Jennifer Lawrence.
Freshman Mariclaire Fancher had arguably the best opportunity for either team to score 13 minutes later when she penetrated the penalty area, only to see her shot smoke off the post and out of the field of play.
Sacramento State turned up the pressure a bit after the intermission and used high pressure to create chances for itself but to no avail, as the game would find its way into extra sessions.
In the first overtime period, the Lady Hornets managed a pair of shots.
Action could not be concluded in the first overtime period and once again saw an additional time period. Both teams traded a pair of shots in the second overtime but neither team could find the back of the net.