The Mississippi State soccer team had an up-and-down weekend as they opened up at home against Northwestern State on Friday and then played host to Kansas on Sunday. The Bulldogs entered the weekend riding a two-game losing streak that saw them blow leads to second-half heroics on both occasions. Coming into Friday’s matchup, the team was looking to rebound against some out-of-conference competition. Friday’s game against Northwestern State was a high note for the team. Senior Jessica Kauffman got things going for State when, in the 52nd minute, she got a pass in front of the goal and was able to put it in the net. Last year’s point leaders Amy Van Zandt and Jessi Moore were not far behind in the scoring parade. After a defensive breakdown, Van Zandt struck the back of the net to again put the Bulldogs back up by one. Freshman Heather Ammann added another goal about 10 minutes later to secure a Bulldog victory. Jessi Moore, one-half of the “dynamic duo” with Van Zandt, added two assists in the home victory.
“We showed good determination to win the game in the second half and we seem to be better organized today,” coach Neil McGuire said
Sunday’s game was not to lend the Bulldogs such a fortunate outcome. The Kansas Jayhawks rolled in, and the name of the game was physical.
The bright spot of the game, despite the loss, was State’s defense. The back liners made solid plays the whole game against a physical barrage by the Jayhawks, and goalie Krystal Werges made a career-high 12 saves in the game.
Much like last week however, it would be second half breakdowns that allowed the Jayhawks to beat the Dawgs.
Ammann continued her red-hot start to the season when she collected her third goal of the year in the first half. The shot came on a pass from Amy Van Zandt, who, like Ammann, continued to look impressive in the offensive half of the field. Van Zandt led the team with five shots in the game.
The defense for the Bulldogs eventually broke down under relentless pressure from Kansas. The Jayhawks out-shot State 20-11 for the contest, and equally lopsided was the shots on goal category in which Kansas tallied a 15-7 edge over the Bulldogs.
“Kansas is an extremely talented team who ranks among some of the best in the country,” McGuire said. “Anyone watching this game Sunday could see that this was a fantastic soccer match between two great teams. Neither team deserved to lose.”
Unlike last week, State lost this game after a hard-fought and physical match, and that is something coaches do not mind quite as much, but State continued its recent trend of losing the game in the second half, something that will have to be addressed as conference play edges closer. The Bulldogs return to action Friday when they travel to Tulane to kick off a four-game road trip.