Johnson’s Brace Extends State’s Perfect Start

Sunday, August 30

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

5-0-0, 0-0-0

Alcorn State

1-3-0, 0-0-0

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

Johnson’s Brace Extends State’s Perfect Start

August 30, 2026 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State defeated Alcorn State, 2-0, on Sunday night behind the first career multi-goal game for Elsa Johnson. Meanwhile, her fellow forward Hailey Johnson assisted on both tallies.

Elsa scored the match's first goal on a ball she lobbed over the keeper and off the inside of the far post. That goal in the 35th minute was State's latest first goal of the season, but the Bulldogs (5-0-0) have still led at halftime in every match this year.

The goal developed quickly off a throw-in. Reese Wheeler's throw-in was flicked on by Hailey to Elsa who served the ball from just outside the right edge of the box. Reganne Morris appeared to have gotten on the end of the ball, but she had ran past it into the netting and immediately pointed out Elsa as the scorer.

"I knew it was in her," head coach Kevin O'Brien said of Elsa Johnson. "She had a great spring, and I saw lots of that in the spring. Then when we came back in the preseason, it's been a little bit more sporadic, but we know it's in there. I hope this is like a catalyst, that we get that Elsa each and every game because she was dynamic, and when she's going, she's hard to handle for sure."

At the break, State held a 12-4 edge in shots, but only four had been on frame as the Lady Braves blocked seven attempts. The Bulldogs earned five corners in the first half, to Alcorn State's (1-3-0) one.

Elsa added a second for her first career multi-goal game in the 68th minute. Hailey beat her defender down the right-hand side and cut into the box. She passed back to Elsa, who was waiting between the penalty spot and the six-yard box and needed just one touch to put the ball over the keeper.

The Bulldogs fired off another dozen shots in the second half without allowing a single attempt. Jenny Harrison finished her second solo shutout of the year with two saves. The 27th minute saw her make one of her biggest saves of the season, stopping a point-blank shot in the box to preserve what was then a scoreless game.

With the win, State extended its winning streak against in-state programs to nine consecutive matches. By scoring two goals, MSU now has 15 on the season, which is tied for the program's third-highest scoring output through its first five matches. State's plus-13 goal differential is the team's second-highest ever through five matches.

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