The Mississippi State soccer team gave itself a much needed boost last weekend, which will carry them into a tough road schedule starting at Tennessee tonight and No. 18 Georgia on Sunday.
The Bulldogs also got the attention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, which has the team at No. 10 in the South region in the latest rankings released Monday.
After a disappointing pair of matches against Auburn and Alabama two weeks ago, the Bulldogs rebounded last weekend with strong showings against Florida and South Carolina – two top-10 ranked teams – that both resulted in 1-1 ties.
Against Florida, then the No. 1-ranked team in the region and No. 7 nationally, the Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead on junior forward Kat Walsh’s score early in the first period until the final six minutes of regulation. A late goal by Florida on a penalty kick in the box sent the match into overtime, where MSU has been strong all season in holding opponents at bay.
After outshooting the Gators 6-1 in two overtime periods, MSU settled for a draw in the match.
The Bulldog’s fortunes were reversed on Sunday as they fought South Carolina, the No. 2 regionally ranked and No. 8 nationally-ranked squad, to a scoreless first period in steady rain before giving up a score moments into the second.
The Bulldog defense tightened, and late in the period, freshman forward Rachel Wanneck drove a free kick from outside the penalty box past the Gamecock’s goalkeeper to tie the game and send it to overtime.
That match ended locked at 1-1 after double overtime.
Head coach Neil Macdonald said his team played much closer to its potential against the two top SEC teams.
“When we’re switched on and organized, when we transition well, it’s not just about the back four. It’s about the strikers being organized, and the midfield being organized as well,” he said. “When we defend as a team, we’re very effective.”
Senior midfielder Andrea Harrison credited the tough workouts after the Alabama game for the improvements.
“We practiced working as a unit and working together more,” she said. “We worked on strategy, transitioning from defense to offense. If we just work hard as a team and play well together, then we should be able to beat anybody.”
The Bulldogs will need to carry this momentum on the road, in potentially hostile territory.
Macdonald said his team knows how to handle away games.
“We’ve played a lot on the road already this year,” he said. “We have to create our own atmosphere. The 22 that travel have to be in it together and create our own atmosphere on the bench, and our own atmosphere in the warm-up. And we will be focused on ourselves.”
Senior goalkeeper Taryn Holland, a Tennessee native who will likely hear some hometown cheers from friends and family, said her team feeds off the boos ,too.
“I think the motivation comes from people cheering against you,” she said. “You know when you hear people dogging you, that makes you want to go play even harder. We’re excited to play and we’re looking for some wins.