Steady offense leads MS State past Northwestern State

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Under the lights of the MSU Soccer Field, a compelling Thursday evening encounter unfolded as State achieved a resounding 3-0 victory against the Lady Demons of Northwestern State.

The match commenced with an immediate burst of energy as Maggie Wadsworth struck the back of the net a mere four minutes into the match, setting the tone for a contest that Northwestern State struggled to counter throughout. Wadsworth’s presence on the field was truly remarkable during her 56 minutes of play, as she registered an impressive three shots on the stat sheet, each one finding its mark on goal.

Wadsworth’s goal was orchestrated through a brilliantly executed set piece – a precisely taken free kick delivered to Rylie Combs and Ilana Izquierdo stationed in the heart of the box. Combs expertly headed the ball toward the lower left corner, paving the way for Wadsworth to deftly tap it in and secure an early lead for the Bulldogs.

Just moments before the halftime whistle, the match’s tempo escalated with a brilliant strike that shifted the score to 2-0 in favor of Mississippi State. At precisely 39 minutes and 35 seconds into the game, the Maroon and White delivered a strike that sailed past defenders and found the back of the net. The orchestrator of this pivotal moment was none other than Kennedy White, who displayed individual brilliance to notch a goal unassisted. With her skill and determination, White elevated the team’s lead, leaving a lasting impact as the first half came to a close.

Emerging from the locker room with unwavering determination, the Dawgs displayed a focused mindset as they swiftly aimed to extend their advantage. A mere three minutes into the second half, Aitana Martinez-Montoya seized a flawlessly timed opportunity to execute a resounding header, further solidifying their lead. The impetus behind this triumphant play was a meticulously placed assist from Haley McWhirter, showcasing their remarkable synchronicity on the field.

The game saw the Lady Demons grappling to penetrate the suffocating defensive setup of State. The Bulldog’s defense has allowed a mere solitary goal across three matches during the early stages of the 2023 season.

Northwestern State managed a lone shot attempt, courtesy of freshman Laura Stepniak in the 82nd minute. On the opposite side, Mississippi State dictated play with an imposing 19-1 shot count, firmly asserting their authority with a commanding 10-0 lead in shots on goal.

The victory propelled the Dawg’s record to an impressive 2-0-1 as they move ahead to another nighttime matchup, this time, a date with Florida International. The match is slated for a 6:30 pm CT kick and can be streamed via SECN+.

Quoting Forward Maggie Wadsworth

On her first goal of the season

“It was a really exciting first goal of the season at home. Yes, we have scored in exhibition matches at home, but there is nothing like this. It was an awesome first game back home and it was really exciting to see the ball hit the back of the net.”

Quoting Forward Kennedy White

On her first goal as a Bulldog

“It was super exciting. I feel like we worked really hard in preseason, and everyone has done really well in training. It was nice to everything come together for our first home game after traveling for a week. It was really nice to get that goal in maroon and white, so I’m super excited.”

Quoting Head Coach James Armstrong

On getting off to a good start at home

“It was really important to get that earlier goal. We knew they were going to fight really hard and they were up for the game. To get that goal in the first five minutes was really good for us to kind of settle into the game. We put one in the net in the second half and scored in the first five minutes there too. I think that says a lot about the mentality of the team.”

On the quality of play from the reserves tonight

“We got to play 25 players tonight and we got over 300 minutes off the bench. On a two-game weekend, that is really important. For us to rest a couple of players tonight was important. We were able to get players valuable experience and valuable minutes. I thought everyone that came off the bench did a good job.”