Oct. 13, 2007
STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 28 South Carolina had a second half goal called back as the Gamecocks battled Mississippi State to a 0-0 tie Friday night at the MSU Soccer Complex. The match was the fourth overtime game in five SEC matches for the Gamecocks (9-4-1; 1-3-1 SEC) and the eighth shutout of the season for the Carolina defense.
Leah Loguidice had a goal called back in the 68th minute due to a disputable offsides call. Senior Erin Sullivan nailed a shot from 25 yards out that was blocked by the Bulldog goalkeeper and Loguidice followed the rebound for the would-be score before the call was made, keeping the score in a 0-0 deadlock.
With the tie, Carolina improves to 0-3-1 in overtime matches this season after dropping an extra period game to then-No. 10 Tennessee and falling in double-overtime matches to No. 20 Georgia and Vanderbilt. Mississippi State’s overall record moves to 5-7-1 and 1-3-1 in SEC play.
South Carolina controlled the ball for the majority of the match, holding a 21-9 shot advantage. The Gamecocks also had 11 corner kicks to MSU’s four.
After 45 minutes of scoreless soccer, Loguidice’s shot on goal was the first highlight for either team after Carolina’s 5-3 shot advantage in the first half. The Gamecocks received a scare two minutes later when senior goalkeeper Laura Armstrong took a cleat to the face in a collision with a Bulldog defender while making a save. Senior goalkeeper Lindsay Thorstenson played the final 40 minutes for the Gamecocks to complete the shutout.
Both teams had close opportunities in the closing minutes of regulation. Blakely Mattern’s header off a corner kick just missed the left side of the net while a Bulldog direct kick from 25 yards out with 30 seconds remaining sailed high above the goal.
Thorstenson recorded an excellent save in the 94th minute to keep Carolina from dropping the match in overtime while Ashley Kirk’s shot missed just left of the goal in the 96th minute. Carolina had two shots on goal in the second overtime period but both were denied as Mississippi State preserved the tie.
South Carolina travels to Oxford Sunday for an SEC match against Ole Miss. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST.
