Following two close losses last week, the Mississippi State soccer team may be left out of the postseason but are not without a goal to accomplish.The Lady Bulldogs go into Friday’s season-ending clash against the Ole Miss Lady Rebels intent on bringing home the Magnolia Cup.
State (6-11-1, 2-7-1 SEC) played its final home game on Thursday, losing 2-3 to Kentucky after two goals from Meredith Jacobson led to a late comeback that fell short.
Three days later, State lost by the same score in the penultimate game of the season at Vanderbilt.
After goals from Treena Ferguson and Katelyn Graben put State ahead twice, the Lady Bulldogs were undone by a Vanderbilt comeback that ended with a game-winning goal in double overtime.
The losses leave State languishing in tenth place in the Southeastern Conference. The Lady Bulldogs sit three slots behind Ole Miss and just out of reach from a coveted playoff spot.
“We’re obviously disappointed we didn’t make it to the playoffs,” head coach Neil MacDonald said. “But we’re still playing our in-state rivals, and both teams take the Magnolia Cup very seriously. We’ll have no problem getting motivated for this game.”
Ole Miss (6-7-5, 3-4-3 SEC) enters the weekend with a playoff spot still to play for, despite not finding a win in its last six games.
After a 2-2 tie with Vanderbilt Thursday night, the Rebels dropped a 2-0 decision at Kentucky on Sunday. The Rebels are currently seventh in the league standings, battling with Kentucky and Vanderbilt for one of the two unclaimed playoff spots remaining.
Mississippi’s five draws this season has equaled a team record, while the team needs a win against State and at least one victory in the SEC tournament to avoid its first losing season since 2004.
“Mississippi is a good soccer team,” MacDonald said. “They have a well-organized defense and play the ball on the ground very well. It is always a tight affair when we play them.”
Victory in the Magnolia Cup would be bittersweet for State’s senior players, who will be playing in their last game. Senior Treena Ferguson, who has scored 15 goals during her four-year career at State, said she hopes to go out on a high.
“The fact that we play Ole Miss as our last game would make victory that much sweeter,” she said. “It would also mean we’d finish our year and the seniors’ careers with a big win.”
Ole Miss leads the overall series against MSU 6-4-3. The teams’ last meeting ended in a 2-0 win for the Rebels in Starkville. The Lady Rebels’ offense is led by senior Chrissy Strini, with the midfielder’s 13 points this season coming from five goals and three assists.
“Ole Miss always comes ready to play,” Ferguson said. “The intensity is always high, and it usually comes down to who wants it most. They are physical and skilled, so our team will have to be both mentally and physically prepared to play.”
MacDonald acknowledges the importance of reclaiming the Magnolia Cup, but says the bottom line should still be the team’s priority.
“We’re playing for the Magnolia Cup, which is very important to us,” MacDonald said. “More importantly, we’re playing for our place in the SEC, so there is still a lot at stake.