STARKVILLE — Neil Macdonald hopes his players have found the right mind-set.
Four games ago, the Mississippi State women’s soccer team was searching for answers following back-to-back losses at LSU and at the University of Arkansas. The Bulldogs allowed four goals in the first half against the Tigers, but regrouped in the second half of their Southeastern Conference opener. They continued their improved play against the Razorbacks before surrendering a goal in the second half in a match Macdonald feels his team deserved to win.
It wasn’t until Macdonald saw his players commit to a change in the way his team prepares for matches that things started to change. MSU responded Friday with a 2-2 overtime tie against the University of Alabama and then upset then-No. 20 Auburn 2-0 on Sunday in Starkville.
“We have talked a lot to the girls since LSU about our commitment as a group,” Macdonald said. “You can either enthusiastically commit to what we’re doing, you can comply with it, or you can condemn it. We talked about the importance of when we tweak things and make changes within the system it is important that everybody is committed to those changes and everybody plays offensively and defensively within that system.”
The victory helped MSU improve to 4-5-3 (1-2-1 SEC) and earn its first victory against a ranked opponent since a 1-0 win against No. 17 Georgia on Oct. 19, 2007.
Elisabeth Sullivan and Amy Hoover scored for MSU. Skylar Rosson made eight saves to help keep Auburn, which held a 24-11 edge in shots, off the scoreboard.
Macdonald said MSU changed its approach in the second half against LSU and played a much better 45 minutes. He said the team played Arkansas differently than it played LSU, Alabama differently than it played Arkansas, and Auburn differently than it played Alabama. He said the players have responded by investing in changes and “getting behind” the philosophy the team is using that match.
For example, Macdonald said MSU used high pressure against Alabama’s back line to prevent the Crimson Tide from triggering their offense. He said MSU collapsed on Auburn’s midfield and did everything it could to deny those players opportunities to control the tempo. He said seven of the game’s top 10 tacklers were Bulldogs, which highlighted his players’ commitment to the style of play that day.
“The game plan against Auburn was executed very, very well,” Macdonald said. “There is a maturity in there as well in terms of understanding every team has to tweak for opposition.”
Macdonald said MSU isn’t going away from its desire to play attacking soccer. He said the basic system is the same and that the return of defender Olivia Drapes has been a welcome addition. Drapes played all 90 minutes against Auburn. She saw 66 minutes as a substitute against Alabama.
“Olivia is a great athlete,” Macdonald said. “She is very quick and passes the ball well out of the back. She has been carrying some knocks, so we have tried to be careful with her. She makes a big impact when she comes in.”
MSU will try to build its momentum at 6 p.m. Friday when it plays at Georgia. It will play at 1 p.m. Sunday at No. 20 Tennessee before returning home next weekend to play host to South Carolina and Florida.
The stretch against SEC Eastern Division opponents arguably is MSU’s toughest of the season, but Macdonald hopes his team has found its footing at just the right time.
“The girls are confident because we feel we have played very well in the past three games,” Macdonald said. “We feel like we’re starting to put it together. The four teams we have to play are all quality. We have to focus on what our roles and responsibilities are. We have to be well prepped going into the games. I think if we show the same kind of commitment and attitude that we have in the last couple of games I think we will do well.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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