Bulldogs Soar Past UT Martin, 3-1

Sunday, August 28

Starkville

1:00 PM

Mississippi State

2-2-0

UT Martin

0-3-0

UT Martin

Mississippi State

Bulldogs down Skyhawks, 3-1

Bulldogs Soar Past UT Martin, 3-1

August 28, 2016 | Soccer

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Aaron Gordon's squad bounced back on Sunday afternoon, to overcome blistering heat and a visiting UT Martin (0-3-0) as Mississippi State (2-2-0) earned its second victory of the year in the 3-1 win.

The Bulldogs allowed a backdoor header in the 14th minute of Sunday's game, but that would be all the Skyhawks could manage as MSU poured on three unanswered goals to walk away with the win.

"I'm proud of how our team responded to the early score and how we battled for the entire 90 minutes," head coach Aaron Gordon said. "I thought we did a good job of getting chances and converting those opportunities. We had a lot of contributions from our bench today, because our team is much deeper compared to years past. That gives us an advantage on Sundays and we needed it on a day like today."

MSU would score twice in an 11-minute span before half, as MaKayla Waldner and Mallory Eubanks earned goals to put the Bulldogs on top, 2-1, before the break. The goals in the 29th and 40th minute were both set up by McKenzie Adams passes, who finished the game with two assists.

Heat was a major concern during the game as officials halted play three times on Sunday for water breaks. Despite the heat, MSU would score one more time as Kelly Dorney converted a quick pass from Carly Mauldin from just outside the box for her first goal of the season.

Bulldogs Dominate Skyhawks:
MSU led in shots (21-2), shots on goal (12-2) and corner kicks (14-3) as the Bulldogs dominated the stat book. A total of 12 Bulldogs had shots on Sunday, as Eubanks led the way with five.

Double Trouble For McKenzie Adams:
Junior McKenzie Adams had only two assists for her career coming into Sunday, now she finishes Sunday doubling that total. The Madison, Miss., native earned two assists against the Skyhawks as she came on in relief to aid two first period goals.

MaKayla Waldner Big Again:
Dexter, Mo., native MaKayla Waldner earned her team-leading second goal of the season, as she again showed flashes of greatness for MSU at the forward position. Waldner finished the game with four shots, three on target, in 69 minutes of action as she wrapped up her fourth-consecutive contest in the starting lineup.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
UTM – (14:19) Saphyra Coombs-James scored a backdoor header for her second goal of the season, as the senior put UT Martin ahead 1-0.

MSU – (29:57) MaKayla Waldner chipped in her second goal of the season, to tie up Sunday's game. Junior McKenzie Adams picked up her first assist of the season after her play to Waldner.

MSU – (40:49) A Mallory Eubanks juke sent keeper Maya Jamison to the ground as the Bulldog put in the go-ahead score. The goal was set up by an Adams assist, her second of the day.

MSU – (79:32) Kelly Dorney earned her career-first goal as a Bulldog in the final minutes of Sunday's contest as the junior used quick reflexes to put in a swift pass from Carly Mauldin.

Additional Notes:

Two juniors have now earned their career first goals in 2016, after Kelly Dorney's goal and Khalyn Harmon's season-opener score
The Bulldogs have scored six goals this season, which last year's squad didn't accomplish until the seventh game of the year
State only scored three or more goals twice last season
MSU used 20 players in Sunday afternoon's game against the Skyhawks
Tanya de Souza, Carly Mauldin and Courtney Robicheaux all played the full 90 minutes
Freshmen MaKayla Waldner and Johanna Hamblett have started in four-consecutive games for the Bulldogs.
537 fans turned out for Sunday's game against UT Martin

Up Next:
Following the 3-1 win, MSU now travels to Mobile, Ala., on Friday, Sept. 2, to face South Alabama at 7 p.m. CT, before returning to the Magnolia State to battle Southern Miss on Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. CT.

Social Media:
For more information on the Mississippi State soccer program, follow "HailStateSOC" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.