State Secures Third Consecutive Scoreless Draw

Friday, October 2

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

7-1-4, 1-0-4

#11 South Carolina

10-1-1, 4-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
South Carolina	0	0	0
Mississippi St.	0	0	0

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Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

State Secures Third Consecutive Scoreless Draw

October 02, 2026 | Soccer

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By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Entering the 2026 season, there had been just 20 scoreless draws in Mississippi State history. Now, there have been three in a row as the Bulldogs picked up points for the fifth straight match with their fourth consecutive tie and third straight of the scoreless variety.

The Bulldogs (7-1-4, 1-0-4 SEC) shut out No. 11 South Carolina on Friday night. It was the second time this season that the Bulldogs had blanked a top-15 team. MSU has now matched the program record for ties in the regular season, and only 2023 saw more thanks to an SEC Tournament match that went to penalties.

"I'm proud of the way we're competing," head coach Kevin O'Brien said. "I think we're a tough nut to crack defensively, and teams are seeing that, so that's the starting point. If we can keep teams out of our goal every game, you've got a chance to win. For me, I thought we did great tonight against a really talented South Carolina team that was 4-0 in the SEC and that's the first points they've dropped all year. I'm proud it was against us."

State's four consecutive ties are a program record, and the Bulldogs have never had more than three 0-0 matches in a single season. That record was set in 2022, the first year that the NCAA stopped playing overtime in the regular season. Ironically, the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks have been responsible for the most scoreless draws of any two teams in school history as tonight was their third.

State outshot South Carolina, 12-8, while doubling them up in the second half with eight shots to the Gamecocks' four. It was a total team effort defensively, as even forward Kati Anne Shepherd made a defensive save on the goal line with a heroic header in the 68th minute.

Kara Harris led the way offensively for State, putting all three of her team-high three shots on target. Laila Murillo also took three shots, and she and Rebeka Vega had the only other shots on frame for MSU.

"The effort our girls put in to create what we did was really good because again, sometimes you know to get a point, you might sit in deep and just defend the whole time," O'Brien added. "That wasn't the case at all. We were creating chances, and we've just got to continue to work on our finishing and burying the ball when we get an opportunity. But top to bottom, I'm proud of everyone that played and the efforts they put in."

Mississippi State will remain at home next week and prepare to host a Texas A&M (4-8-0, 0-5-0 SEC) squad that is also led by a fellow first-year head coach. The Bulldogs are tied for seventh in the conference on eight points at the midway point of the league slate. Kickoff on Friday, Oct. 9 is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."