The Mississippi State Lady Bulldog’s soccer team opened their season this past weekend with games against Iowa State and Samford, both resulting in tied games at the end of play.
Friday
Emily Meyers and shutouts are rapidly becoming synonymous with one another as she pitched the fifth one of her career in the season opener against the visiting Iowa State Cyclones (0-0-1).
The defensive effort by Meyers and her teammates led the Lady Bulldogs to Friday night’s 0-0 tie.
While Mississippi State’s defensive accolades earned them a scoreless tie, the outcome might have been different if not for the Lady Bulldogs’ offensive stagnation.
The Lady Cyclones outshot MSU 20-to-10 in the contest, and started the night off impressively after taking the first four initial shots of the ball game.
State finally got into the offensive stats sheet at the 10-minute mark as senior midfielder Meghan Odom pelted the first MSU shot of the contest.
Due to the intense defensive efforts by both sides, the contest had to be concluded in extra minutes.
The extra period would prove to be the same as the rest: A lack of offensive production incorporated with a blend of quality defense.
Although the contest concluded with a tie, both teams played a truly inspiring match and left head coach Neil Macdonald pleased with what he saw.
“We have a little bit of heart and a little bit of determination and you can’t see those things in practice,” MacDonald said. “You have to be in a competitive environment to see that and we showed it tonight.”
Sunday
A game of close calls and intense defense is the best way to describe Sunday’s contest between Mississippi State and the other Lady Bulldogs of Samford University (1-0-1).
In the first half of play, things would prove to be motionless offensively.
Finally, about halfway through the first period of play, Mississippi State seemed to get on the board from a corner kick.
As the ball was knocked into play, a header hit the ball into the net. Though, MSU’s first goal would be reneged by the referee’s due to an offside penalty.
In the second period of play, Samford struck first offensively as Jessika Mejia was able to split the MSU defense and score an unassisted goal at the 27-minute mark.
State would not be outdone, though. With the help of a little luck they answered back.
With 25:30 left to play, a sailing MSU kick would look to land inside the 18. Before the ball had the opportunity to land, Samford’s Cassie Applegate tried to head the ball back into midfield but misfired, and the ball went sailing into her own net.
This error in play and judgment allowed MSU the benefits of a tied ball game.
While the contest went into two extra inning periods, neither MSU nor Samford could seem to find the net, and ended the game tied and one apiece.
“I thought we were a bit fortunate,” MSU head coach Neil Macdonald said. “We had chances in the first half that we probably should have taken, and it probably could have been a very different game if we had taken those chances.”