Continuing a luckless run of form, the Mississippi State soccer team ended the season on a bad note with a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Ole Miss on Friday.The Lady Bulldogs finished the season in tenth place in the Southeastern Conference, two places better than last season but not enough for an NCAA tournament berth.
The loss helped State’s arch rivals secure a place in the SEC Tournament for the 11th consecutive season, a feat that just eluded the Lady Bulldogs this season.
To add insult to injury, the Lady Rebels also walked away with bragging rights after claiming the Magnolia Cup for the second straight year.
MSU head coach Neil MacDonald said he knew playing their in-state rivals would be a close affair and was disappointed not to reclaim the Magnolia Cup.
The Bulldogs last won against Ole Miss in the 2004 season during MacDonald’s first year at the helm.
“They’re a very good soccer team,” MacDonald said. “It is always going to be a tight game when we play them.”
Despite a first half devoid of any real scoring chances, there was plenty of action at both ends as the Rebels edged out State 6-2 in shots.
State’s chances came from senior forward Treena Ferguson as she recorded two of the team’s four shots on goal to test Rebel goalkeeper Ann Shelton.
Ferguson sent another shot wide, and Taryn Holland produced a save from UM’s Chrissy Strini soon after the restart as both teams struggled to find a breakthrough.
Ole Miss threatened with a chance early in the second half, as sophomore Hannah Weatherly cut back outside the box to send a shot just wide.
After 65 minutes, the stalemate was finally broken as Ole Miss junior defender Austin Brown scored her first goal of the season.
Corralling a loose ball outside the Bulldog penalty area on the left, Brown found space to fire a shot over Holland’s outstretched hands and inside the far post.
State pressed forward following the goal in search of an equalizer, but was denied each time by good defense from Shelton as the senior goalkeeper preserved the 18th shutout of her career.
Senior forward Jessica Davis almost struck five minutes after Brown’s goal, but found her shot well saved.
State’s Bethany Frazier also went close for the Lady Bulldogs in the 82nd minute, but her shot on target was also parried away by the Ole Miss keeper.
State goalkeeper Stephanie Dallas was brought in for Holland to play the last four minutes in goal, but the senior did not have to make a save in her final game because State kept the action at the other end.
The Lady Bulldogs had one last chance during the final minutes as Ashley Hood put a shot high, but an equalizer was not in the cards as State ended the 2007 fall season at 6-12-1 overall and 2-8-1 in the SEC.
Three of four seniors in State’s squad ended their MSU careers with playing time in Friday’s game, including Ferguson, whose four years with the team left a big impact on her.
“I will miss the girls and the competitive soccer of the SEC,” Ferguson said. “Even though I’m sad to see it end, I’ll look forward to what is next.