Bulldogs Shutout No. 57, Conference Champions San Jose State in Regular Season Finale

Saturday, November 4

Starkville

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

9-5-4

San Jose State

12-6-2

San Jose State

Mississippi State

Bulldogs Shutout No. 57, Conference Champions San Jose State in Regular Season Finale

November 04, 2017 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery VIDEO | Catalina Perez

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A strong defensive effort helped propel Mississippi State to its ninth victory of the season on Saturday, as the Bulldogs (9-5-4) shutout San Jose State (12-6-2), 1-0, at the MSU Soccer Field.

With the win, the Bulldogs increase their win percentage to .611, which is third-best in program history and the best since 2001.

"San Jose State is a very good team," MSU coach Tom Anagnost said. "I thought they did very well against us. They are a Top-60 team and they won their league. This was a very good team that we beat and they gave us everything we could handle."

State got all the scoring it needed in the first half on a second-minute goal by MaKayla Waldner that was assisted by Catalina Perez and Brooke McKee. To score, Waldner fielded a deep on-target pass from McKee, which Waldner scurried up the field and fired a perfect strike from just atop the box. The assists for McKee and Perez were their fourth and second of the year, respectively.

Waldner's ninth goal of the season puts her in a tie for sixth in MSU history for goals scored in a single season, and it is the most goals scored by a Bulldog since Jessi Moore in 2009 (9). It was also her fifth game-winner of the year, cementing her atop the MSU record books for game-winning goals in a season.

In the 18th minute, MSU nearly doubled its lead, when a shot by Payton Gruenewald ricocheted off the crossbar and almost bounced into the empty net.

The Maroon and White caused some more trouble for the Mountain West Conference champions yet again in the 38th minute when a host of Bulldogs created some traffic deep in the box, but San Jose State goalkeeper Gabriella Herrera was able to corral a loose ball.

The Bulldogs again displayed strong defense, keeping the regular-season Mountain West champions at bay all evening, led by Perez's seven saves, which ties her career high. The First-Team All-SEC goalkeeper recorded her sixth clean sheet of the season, tying the program record for shutouts in a season.

Perez was once again an impassible force, which was reflected by not just her seven saves, but by the multiple times she kept the Spartans from even getting a shot off by leaping for balls in the air throughout the contest.

"We knew we had to come out here and get a win," Perez said. "We just wanted to give it everything we had to respect this field and this place that is so special."

Next Up For MSU…

The Bulldogs will wait to see if their season will continue on Monday, Nov. 6, when the selections for the NCAA Tournament will be announced. The 64-team tournament begins on Friday, Nov. 10.

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