Bulldogs Blank No. 21 Auburn, Break School Record For Scoreless Draws

Sunday, October 18

Auburn, Ala.

5 p.m.

Mississippi State

8-2-5, 2-1-5

#21 Auburn

8-2-5, 4-2-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Mississippi St.	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0

Box Score (PDF)

Bulldogs Blank No. 21 Auburn, Break School Record For Scoreless Draws

October 18, 2026 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

AUBURN, Ala. – Mississippi State did not allow a single shot on goal as the Bulldogs blanked No. 21 Auburn in a scoreless tie on Sunday night.

The Bulldogs (8-2-5, 2-1-5 SEC) have now tied the program record for ties in a season and broken the school record for scoreless ties with their fourth of the year. Entering the season, there had been only 20 scoreless draws in the prior 30 seasons in program history. Three of the team's draws have come against ranked teams (then-No. 9 Tennessee, then-No. 11 South Carolina), marking the first year with multiple ranked ties since State recorded a pair in 2009.

"It was really impressive," head coach Kevin O'Brien said. "Six shots total and none on goal against a really talented team is a great output defensively, and it takes everybody. You know, it's our forwards defending, our midfielders tracking runners and doing their jobs well and then the back four just being steady Eddie as they've been. It was a great defensive performance."

Mississippi State got the best scoring chance of the night off early. In the fourth minute, Kyli Switalski's volley was touched over the bar. That would be one of just three shots in the first half, and only one of Auburn's (8-2-5, 4-2-2 SEC) two attempts made it past the defender before sailing wide.

Auburn took four shots in the second half with three sailing wide and one blocked. The Bulldogs also took four shots, but Laila Murillo forced one save.

The 64th minute saw the most dramatic action. Auburn challenged for a potential handball in the box, but the call on the field was upheld and the Tigers were awarded a corner. On the ensuing play, The ball was put on frame twice in quick succession, appearing to be stopped on the goal line first by Kati Anne Shepherd and then by Rebeka Vega.

The call on the field at the time was that the second ball had crossed the line before being cleared, but upon review, a foul was called against Auburn for impeding the goalkeeper on the initial service, which wiped out both shots.

State threatened one last time in the 71st minute. Hailey Johnson picked off a pass and played a streaking Elsa Johnson out wide. The second Johnson's cross sailed through the box untouched, however.

"Obviously, you know, we've got to continue to develop our ability to be dangerous and possess the ball a little bit more to advance our team into their half. That, for me, wasn't great tonight, but in the end, I attribute that to heavy legs," O'Brien added. "We have a thin rotation, and the Sunday games are always a grind. This was certainly that, but as a staff, we are so, so proud of the girls."

The Bulldogs will now travel to LSU next week for a Sunday kickoff at 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

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