Blue Raiders Drop Late Decision, 1-0

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Betty Ann Casey's goal with just over two minutes to play broke a scoreless tie and gave the homestanding Mississippi State Bulldogs a 1-0 victory over Middle Tennessee in soccer action Sunday afternoon at the Mississippi State soccer field.

The two teams were part of a defensive struggle until Casey's header at 87:58 gave the Bulldogs the victory. MSU continued its streak of not allowing a goal at home this season, their fourth blanking of the year.

Again Blue Raider keeper Danielle Perreault kept her team in the match, making a save on a header by MSU's April Berry just over a minute into the match.

Middle Tennessee's Jenny Cox had the best chance for the Blue Raiders through the first half of the match, blasting a shot from 25 yards that tested Bulldog keeper Luisa Marzotto.

The Bulldogs continued attacking and Perreault met the challenge, making a save on Karen Sandrik's shot in the 17th minute. The Blue Raiders cleared a shot from point-blank in the 34th minute by Elke D'Hollander, and Casey hit the post in the next minute, MSU's best scoring chance of the first half.

Middle Tennessee's Laura Miguez had a chance late in the half, but her blast from 15 yards was right at Marzotto, who entered the match with a 0.65 goals-against-average and three shutouts in nine matches.

In the 58th minute, Perreault made a pair of point-blank saves against MSU's Ngum Sum, keeping the match scoreless and the Blue Raiders in the match.

Berry's blast from 30 yards in the 63rd minute was saved by Perreault before the Middle Tennessee's Danielle LaDuke chipped over Marzotto in the 66th minute, sailing one high over the keeper.

The Bulldogs stepped up the attack in the 70th minute, peppering the net with shots, but none that could beat Perreault until the 88th minute, when Marzotto played a long ball after a foul at midfield into the box where Casey headed into over the Blue Raider keeper and into the back of the net.

Mississippi State outshot the Blue Raiders, 19-8, as Perreault made six saves in the defeat.

The Blue Raiders return home Friday to open conference play against Florida International at 3 p.m.

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