MOBILE, Ala. – An attempted University of South Alabama clearance bounced off a Mississippi State soccer player and into the net to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 double-overtime victory Friday night at The Cage.
The loss drops the Jaguars to 2-2-1 on the year. All three home games have gone into double overtime, but the Jags have yet to pick up a win (0-2-1). The Bulldogs improve to 3-2.
"It was a hard-fought game, and I say this every week at home right now, but the girls were absolutely fantastic. I can't praise them enough," USA head coach
Graham Winkworth said. "We've been phenomenal at home so far this season and haven't picked up a result. We outshot them 26-13 and the keeper pulled off some fantastic saves. We had some good opportunities to score. I thought we were going to be given another penalty kick, but we didn't. It wasn't to be.
"I couldn't be prouder of the girls' efforts."
The winning tally came at the 101:32 mark after a Mississippi State cross got loose in the penalty area. As a South Alabama defender tried to clear the ball from inside the six-yard box, it went straight into the body of the MSU attacker and into the open net.
"Lady luck hasn't gone in our direction, whether it's the post or goals that go in (off another player)," Winkworth said. "The girl was in the right place at the right time, so I don't know that I want to call it fluky, but she was in the right place at the right time and all credit to them.
"If I look at the number of passes that were completed in this game, I thought we completely outplayed them, but at the end of the day, we didn't get the right result. If we play like this for the remainder of the season, week in and week out, it's going to be very difficult for teams to play with us on a regular basis."
After a scoreless first half, it took less than nine minutes for the Jaguars to break the tie. Junior
Rio Hardy (Workington, England) recorded her team-leading third goal of the season after redirecting a free kick from sophomore
Jemma Purfield (Cottingham, England).
Mississippi State equalized at the 66:09 mark on a solo effort from
Kennadi Carbin. Carbin gained control just outside the attacking third, dribbled through the middle of the field before cutting across the top of the 18-yard box and placing her shot in the right side of the net.
The Jaguars looked to have won it with just over five minutes left in regulation, but MSU goalkeeper Tanya de Souza saved a USA penalty kick.
South Alabama dominated the first overtime period, outshooting Mississippi State 7-0, including four on net, with three corner kicks, but was unable to score. The Jags held a 26-13 advantage in shots overall, and an 11-6 edge on target.
"It was one-way traffic, but soccer's a funny old game and that's just the way it is," Winkworth said. "I'm really proud of the girls' efforts, it's just we have to pick them up now because we have some team from Tallahassee coming in on Monday."
De Souza made nine saves for the Bulldogs, while senior
Sarah Hay (Waxahatchie, Texas) had four stops for the Jaguars.
South Alabama returns to the pitch Monday afternoon, hosting No. 1 Florida State at 5 p.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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