Michigan State University
3-0-1, 0-0-0
Ole Miss
2-2-0, 0-0-0
No. 4 Spartans Remain Unbeaten with 1-0 Win Over Ole Miss
8/29/2024 10:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Graduate midfielder Emily Mathews scored her first goal of the season to lift No. 4 Michigan State women's soccer to a 1-0 victory over Ole Miss Thursday night at DeMartin Stadium.
The win marked MSU's first win over an SEC opponent since a 5-1 victory against Kentucky on Sept. 5, 2004.
MSU remains undefeated in 2024 and moves to 3-0-1 with the win, while the Rebels drop to 2-2-0 on the season.
Mathews, a graduate transfer, earned her first points in the Green & White with the goal. Graduate teammate Meg Hughes tallied an assist on Mathews' game winner for her third-straight game registering at least one point.
MSU led the shot count, 16-5, and corner kick battle, 11-0. Sophomore midfielder Bella Najera led the Spartans in shots with five.
After a slow start on the attacking ends in the first half and an early off-target shot from the Rebels, junior midfielder Emerson Sargeant recorded the first shot of the game for the Spartans in front of the Ole Miss goalkeeper, but her shot was saved in the eighth minute.
The Spartans controlled the first half from then on with a dominant display on both ends. Sophomore midfielder Bella Najera forced another save in the 18th minute before a trio of corner opportunities for the Spartans, but MSU was unable to convert. A shot to the bottom center of the net by Najera in the was the final good look for the Spartans in the half but was once again saved by the Ole Miss goalkeeper to keep the Spartans off the board.
The Spartans held the Rebels to just one shot in the first 45 minutes but could not create any chances in the closing minutes of the half as the teams remained deadlocked headed to the break.
Graduate goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks made her only save of the game in the 52nd minute after Ole Miss' Bella Leonard sent a ball to the bottom of the net. MSU finally broke the ice minutes later after graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony's shot was blocked by an Ole Miss defender. Hughes found the ball in the box after the blocked shot and passed to Mathews, who sent the ball to the left of the Ole Miss goalkeeper to give MSU the 1-0 lead.
The Spartans and Rebels then traded shots and possession back and forth for the following 20 minutes, but neither team was able to create any threatening chances. Najera forced a pair of saves and Hughes forced another in the final two minutes, but MSU was unable to add to its lead, securing the 1-0 victory as time expired.
Parks earned the win in goal in a full 90 minutes of play. Ole Miss goalkeeper Shu Ohba made six saves in the loss.
"I think we were a little shaky in the start. That's three times out at home that our opponent has been more prepared with their energy, their focus and ability to execute their gameplan. We've got to come out of the locker room with a lot more intensity demonstrated than these last three games," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "It's early, but I do have high expectations for this group with all the veterans we have that we've got to be better coming out of the locker room and be better imposing our will on our opponents the first five minutes."
MSU hosts No. 15 Xavier on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. at DeMartin Stadium for the Spartans' third ranked matchup of 2024 on B1G+. As part of the team's Championship Sunday celebration, fans have the opportunity to meet the team and get autographs immediately following the match.
Team Stats
Emily Mathews (1)
Assisted By: Meg Hughes
GOAL by MSU Mathews, Emily Assist by Hughes, Meg.
52:55
