With the Mississippi State University soccer team still undefeated, all eyes were on the Bulldogs as they faced off against the University of South Alabama.
MSU kept South Alabama scoreless, which had not been done all season for the Jaguars. With 20 minutes left in the first half, junior goalkeeper Maddy Anderson stopped South Alabama from scoring with a diving save. After Thursday’s match, Anderson now is tied for third place for MSU career shutouts.
The first half of the match was a competitive battle between the two teams. However, head coach James Armstrong said he felt the girls were frantic.
“I don’t know, the start of the game just wasn’t our usual self for the first time. We were a little bit frantic, frazzled — a little bit shocked from that standpoint,” Armstrong said.
During the second half of the game, Mississippi State increased its aggression and intensity. The passes and patience led the team to outshoot the Jaguars nine to zero. The Bulldogs kept the ball on their side for over 10 minutes, which helped keep the Jags from scoring.
MSU took 15 total shots and limited the Jaguars to two total shots that night, both of which were taken in the first half. The two shots taken were the least amount of shots Mississippi State has given up all year.
Coach Armstrong spoke on the Bulldogs’ performance during the second half of Thursday’s match.
“It was all about how we’re going to respond in the second half, and I thought the second half was much better. Nine shots to zero, which says a lot about changing in character, the changing attitudes in the second half. But, we have to put two halves together to be successful,” Armstrong said.
The matchup was different from their other opponents. South Alabama was entering the matchup with 28 shots on goal, but the Bulldogs did not allow a single one.
Sophomore defender Rylie Combs and sophomore midfielder Haley McWhirter both had shot-on-goal attempts but were unsuccessful. However, sophomore midfielder Juliet Moore had multiple saving attempts and two shots taken.
With the tie against South Alabama, the Bulldogs remain undefeated (3-0-2) and will host Louisiana Tech University Sept. 4.
