With the Bulldogs (7-8-3, 4-5-1 SEC) thrilling 1-0 victory over Kentucky in Lexington Sunday afternoon, State qualified for the 2004 Southeastern Conference Tournament that will be hosted by Auburn University Nov. 4-7 due to hurricane damage to the original tournament site in Orange Beach, Ala.
MSU will be making its first appearance in the SEC tournament since the 2001 season when the Bulldogs won the SEC Western Division crown.
Morgan McDonald, one of only five players from the 2001 club, said returning to the tournament is something special for her and her fellow seniors.
“It’s very exciting for us because we haven’t been there since our freshman year,” she said. “We’re just happy to be able to share it with the rest of the team.”
State squandered its first opportunity to qualify for the tournament Friday night as the Bulldogs returned home from a four-game road trip to entertain Vanderbilt.
Vandy grabbed the early advantage in the third minute as Lauren Mitchell connected on a one-time resulting from a well-placed through ball from Kelci Hegg.
Taking a 1-0 halftime lead, the Commodores resumed play in the second half right where they left off as Lea Lafield made good on her shot (53rd minute) past the arms of a diving Emily Meyers.
Vandy padded their lead to 3-0 in the 78th minute when Amy Baumann nailed a one-timer, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Bulldogs.
Freshman Kevyn Shelledy would spoil the Commodore’s bid for a shutout when she put State on the board with a sliding shot into the back of the net.
“I threw my body in and prayed to God it would go in,” Shelledy said.
With less than 20 seconds remaining in the contest, Vandy added another late goal on Brette Healy’s deflection into the net, ending the scoring at 4-1.
“Vanderbilt is a very good program and they got most of the play tonight,” head coach Neil MacDonald said. “We looked flat and tired throughout the game and I’m not sure why.”
With fewer and fewer chances remaining for points, the Bulldogs, Sunday’s game was crucial. With a trip to the SEC Tournament at stake, the Bulldogs rose to the occasion and derailed the Wildcats 1-0 in Lexington.
With no real scoring threats for either team, the scored stayed knotted at zero at the half.
As the second half unfolded, senior forward Ngum Suh, another member from the 2001 team, scored the game-winning goal.
Midway through the second half, in the 63rd minute, Betty Ann Casey played a ball from the left side that avoided the Kentucky defense. Suh outran Kentucky keeper Liz Butler to the loose ball and nailed a shot from 10 feet out.
“It was a good goal in transition,” Suh said. “My teammates played me a great ball and I was able to reach it and tap it in.”
UK had a number of opportunities to tie the game, but the four second half saves from Meyers kept the Wildcats scoreless.
MSU concludes its 2004 regular season next weekend as the Bulldogs return home to take on in-state rival Mississippi Friday, Oct. 29 and wrap up the weekend with a Sunday match with Georgia State.