Friday, Oct. 24
The Mississippi State women’s soccer team celebrated Senior Night by honoring its six seniors and upsetting the Florida Gators 1-0.
The win marked State’s (8-8-2, 2-5-1 Southeastern Conference) first victory, as well as its first goal, in the history of the series with the six-time SEC champion Gators.
The win also snapped a four-game winless streak and was State’s first win over a top 10 opponent in school history.
Senior defender Kristen Benefield said she will always remember how special her Senior Night was.
“It was just a lot of fun to play in a game like that because we had never beaten them before,” said Benefield. “We played our best knowing that it was one of our last games to be recognized as seniors.”
MSU entered Friday night’s game against No. 6 Florida as a heavy underdog. Florida brought with them an explosive offense that averaged 6.5 goals a game in the all-time series against the Bulldogs.
As the game got under way, the Bulldogs appeared intimidated by the bigger and faster Gators. Florida controlled the majority of the first half as the ball was primarily on the Bulldogs’ side of the field.
Florida nearly grabbed an early lead on midfielder Crystal Frimpong’s shot in the eighth minute, but MSU keeper Luisa Marzotto made a diving save.
Marzotto finished the game with a total of nine saves, five of which were diving.
“I think this was probably one of the best games that I have played all year,” said Marzotto. “I’ve proved that I am as good as any other goalkeeper in the SEC and in the NCAA.”
MSU was out-shot 12-1 in the first half, but managed to go into halftime with the score 0-0.
When play began in the second half, the Bulldogs played much more aggressively, and with a higher level of intensity.
Both teams, however, were unable to muster any scoring threat.
Midway through the second half, in the 64th minute, the Bulldogs were awarded a free kick resulting from a Florida foul.
MSU defender Karen Sandrik took the kick from nearly midfield and played the ball into the box. Forward Betty Ann Casey then flicked the ball to the feet of midfielder Sara Moore who alertly kicked the ball into the back of the net giving State the 1-0 lead.
“We were the underdogs and we had nothing to lose and we just gave it our all,” said Moore. “We just out worked them and we just wanted it more.”
Florida would get its best chance to tie the game late in the second half with only 10 minutes remaining.
Gator midfielder Megan McMillan received a through ball at the top of the 18 and had a one-on-one with the keeper. Marzotto came out to challenge the shot only to see the ball sail wide left.
“This is the greatest victory in our history as a soccer program,” said head coach Neil McGuire. “I think that we’ve been close to competing with teams like this for a long time, and it gives the girls a belief that they can actually do it.”
Sunday, Oct. 26
By beating the Gators on Friday night, Sunday’s game against South Carolina became much more important that originally expected.
If the Bulldogs could beat South Carolina on Sunday, they would put themselves in excellent position for an invitation to the SEC tournament.
Both teams started the first half with very little offensive production. Neither team could establish any kind of offensive attack. South Carolina managed only four shots, while MSU was limited to three.
“I think we did well on offense today, but we just couldn’t get the ball to our feet,” said Betty Ann Casey. “We all tried real hard today, but they just wanted it more.”
Late in the second half, with the game still tied 0-0, South Carolina set up for their fifth corner kick of the day.
The kick was played on the ground into the middle of the box were MSU defenders attempted to clear the ball out. The ball rolled around the box until Gamecock midfielder Amanda Thurber sent a one touch upper 90 blast into the back of the net.
“I think the biggest problem today was we came off an extremely emotional win against Florida and we didn’t come out here with enough intensity and heart until we got down and that was too late,” said Morgan McDonald.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, South Carolina was able to withstand any final scoring threats that MSU presented.
“Give credit to South Carolina; they were the better team today,” said McGuire. “They worked the ball, they had the ball, and they really wanted it more than we did, and in result they got the victory.”
MSU will return to action next Friday night as they travel to Oxford to face the Mississippi Rebels to compete for the Magnolia Cup.