MSU Steals Overtime Soccer Win From Rebels

Nov. 2, 2001

OXFORD, Miss. - In front of what is believed to be the largest crowd ever to watch a soccer match in the state of Mississippi, Ole Miss and Mississippi State battled for over 119 minutes before Bulldog Jessi Moore broke ahead of the pack for the game-winning goal, 2-1, with 16 seconds left in double overtime.

A standing room only crowd of 1,791 at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium saw MSU (12-7, 5-4 SEC) strike the first blow when Amy Van Zandt (11) headed in a Kristin Petersen cross in the 10th minute.

State maintained the 1-0 lead until the 62:14 mark, when Rebel Anna Sanders drove in from the right side and ripped a shot to the back of the net from 13 yards away. It was third goal of the season for the junior from Fayetteville, Ark.

After clawing back and forth for the final 27 scoreless minutes of regulation, Ole Miss (9-9-1, 4-5 SEC) would take control in the first overtime, outshooting the Dogs 6-0 over the 15 minute stanza. However, State would survive behind three key saves by goalkeeper Krystal Werges, who finished the night with nine stops.

The second OT would see UM goalie Melinda Smith put to the test. The lone Rebel senior, who has honored in a pre-game ceremony, turned away five Bulldog attempts in the final overtime period, where MSU held a 6-1 shot advantage. Smith collected eight saves in her final match in Oxford.

After it appeared a second consecutive tie between the two in-state foes would be the result, Moore, a freshman forward for State, would take a short kick, drive toward the goal one-on-one with the keeper and boot the ball to the bottom right corner of the net from 10 yards out.

The loss ends the Rebels' streak of two straight SEC Western Division titles. Auburn got by Alabama 2-1 in overtime Friday, leaving the Tigers and Bulldogs as co-champions in the West. It is the first division crown for either program.

MSU holds the tie-breaker against Auburn and earns the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins Thursday in Baton Rouge, La. Ole Miss drops to the No. 7 seed in the tourney, setting up a rematch with State in the opening round.

 Mississippi State (12-7-0, 5-4 SEC) vs. Ole Miss (9-9-1, 4-5 SEC) Date: Nov 2, 2001   Attendance: 1,791 Weather: Clear and pleasant, 60s ------------------------------------------ Mississippi State.......  1  0  0  1 -  2 Ole Miss................  0  1  0  0 -  1
 SCORING SUMMARY:  1.   9:05 MSU Amy Van Zandt (11) (Kristin Peterson) - Header from two yards away in front  2.  62:14 UM Anna Sanders (3) (unassisted) - 13 yards away, right side  3. 119:44 MSU Jessi Moore (10) (Amy Van Zandt) - one vs. one from 10 yards away
 Shots: Mississippi State 15, Ole Miss 22 Saves: Mississippi State 9 (Krystal Werges 9), Ole Miss 8 (Melinda  Smith 8) The 1,791 is believed to be the largest crowd ever at soccer match in the state of Mississippi.

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Team Stats

Anna Sanders

Kristal Menard

Lindley Beckman

Courtney Biddle

The University of Mississippi Athletics