STARKVILLE — For the third time in program history — and first since 2012 — the Mississippi State women’s soccer team has defeated all of its non-conference opponents.
On Sunday, MSU completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory against Louisiana Tech at the MSU Soccer Field.
MSU (7-0) earned the victory after lightning in the area delayed the start of the match 75 minutes.
MSU had plenty of chances in the first half and held a 9-1 edge in shots midway through the match, but the game remained scoreless through 45 minutes.
The Bulldogs struck in the second half with three goals in less than 10 minutes. Senior Brooke McKee started the scoring in the 61st minute after a corner kick was deflected and fell at her feet. With the goalkeeper unable to recover, she fired the ball home to give MSU the first goal of the match for the 11th-consecutive game.
“I think our character showed as the game progressed,” MSU coach Tom Anagnost said. “We kept at it and altered a couple of things to better our starting positions. Once we got one goal, we bore down and got another one.”
In the 67th minute senior Courtney Robicheaux served a ball in from about 20 yards out that slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands for her first goal. Fifty-nine seconds later, freshman Niah Johnson scored off a blocked shot.
The Bulldogs held the Lady Techsters to five shots. Only one reached redshirt senior Rhylee DeCrane, who moved into a tie for second in school history in single-season shutouts after picking up her sixth.
MSU will now travel to Auburn (7-0) to open conference play at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
n Ole Miss 2, Florida Atlantic 1: At Fayetteville, Arkansas, Gabby Little’s header in the 89th minute Sunday lifted the Rebels (6-2) past the Owls (2-6) on the final day of the University of Arkansas tournament.
Jennifer Ocampo scored in the second minute for FAU. CeCe Kizer scored off a header from Madisyn Pezzino to tie the match in the first half.
On the game-winner, Mary Kate Smith sent in a perfect cross from the top corner of the 18-yard box and Little won the header, sneaking the ball inside the post.
Ole Miss will travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to take on Alabama on 7 p.m. Thursday in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
n Alabama 5, Troy 0: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Gigi Schorr scored three goals Sunday to lift the Crimson Tide (5-2-1) past the Trojans (1-6-1) at the Alabama Soccer Complex.
Alabama has outscored the opposition 22-2 in its last five games.
Senior Emma Welch broke the program’s career assist record with her 20th.
The win also marked the third-consecutive game Alabama has scored five or more goals.
“We have so much versatility in our players,” Alabama coach Wes Hart said. “Gigi is listed as a defender, but she is effective in the attack because she is good one on one, and she has some pace so we can put her up top.
As for Welch’s record, Hart said, “I never have sat down and talked to her about the record. I didn’t want to bring light to it because it was going to happen eventually if she kept doing the right things, and she had been. She’s grown tremendously, especially her confidence. The most important thing we’ve seen from her as a player, is her development of her confidence.”
Welch made program history in the second half, surpassing the 19 career assists by former standout Libby Probst (2002-05). Assist number 20 came in the 49th minute when freshman Riley Mattingly and Welch fought for possession of the ball before passing it off to Boswell for her first goal of the game. Boswell and Welch’s connection continued into the 64th minute, as Welch challenged Troy’s goalkeeper to leave the box and from there she was able to pass the ball back to Boswell for an effortless kick in the net.
n Southern Mississippi 2, Nicholls State 0: At Thibodaux, Louisiana, the Golden Eagles (5-1) extended their winning streak to five Sunday with their victory at Yockey Bernard Field on the campus of E.D. White Catholic High School.
Senior midfielder/forward Stephanie Garcia gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead with her fourth goal of the season in the 33rd minute.
Senior midfielder Hannah Abrams scored off an assist from sophomore midfielder Miah Zuazua in the second half to provide insurance.
Southern Miss had a 12-2 shots advantage.
Southern Miss will take on Jackson State at 4 p.m. Thursday in Jackson.
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