State Flips Script In Dominant Comeback Victory

Thursday, August 27

Starkville

5 p.m.

Mississippi State

4-0-0, 0-0-0

Oklahoma State

1-2-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Oklahoma St.	1	0	1
Mississippi St.	4	0	4

State Flips Script In Dominant Comeback Victory

August 27, 2026 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights Press Conference

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – For the first time in 2026, Mississippi State found itself trailing in a match after conceding in the third minute of the match against Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs quickly reasserted themselves, scoring four unanswered goals in the first half on their way to a 4-1 victory.

MSU's four goals in the first 45 minutes were its highest single-half scoring output since a 7-0 win over Southern in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. It was the Bulldogs' highest-scoring first half since a four-goal performance against Alabama on Oct. 7, 2018.

"I love [the comeback]. For me, that was the message when we got to the hydration break," head coach Kevin O'Brien said. "I was just so proud of the way they responded to the adversity that we faced, which we hadn't yet, against a good team. The way we kind of dug ourselves out of a little bit of a hole, played great soccer from start to finish but created the goals, made some rotations in the squad and those players came in and created goals, it was just big-time performance from start to finish."

Eden Nicholson got the comeback started in the 18th minute with the first goal of her career. Kati Anne Shepherd beat her defender down the left side and served a cross over the box. It sailed over Hailey Johnson and a defender, but Nicholson was first to it on the back side and volleyed it over the keeper.

Five minutes later, Chiara Tappe fired a free kick from near midfield over everyone. Hailey Johnson won a race to the bouncing ball and headed the ball into the net just as the keeper arrived and collided with her.

Late in the half, Abbey Dalton and Hailey Johnson sprung Reganne Morris on a breakaway. The keeper stepped out to challenge her, and Morris calmly passed the ball past her and into the net. With seconds ticking off the clock in the final minute, Elsa Johnson was fouled in the box. Initially uncalled, the penalty kick was awarded via VAR, and Kyli Switalski buried it.

The two pairs of goals are the fastest in sequence by State this season. Entering the match, MSU's fastest pair of goals was in a span of 5:42. Tonight's first two goals were just 5:26 apart, and the third and fourth were scored in just 5:07.

The second half was scoreless with only three total shots between the teams. For the match, State (4-0-0) outshot the Cowgirls, 11-4. Jenny Harrison was untested in the final 45 minutes as the Oklahoma State's (1-2-1) early goal was its only shot on goal all night.

Mississippi State will host Alcorn State on Sunday night at 6 p.m. CT. The Bulldogs enter that match on an eight-game winning streak against in-state foes. The match will air on SEC Network+.

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