University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagle Soccer Upsets Mississippi State, 3-2
9/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Lady Eagle Soccer Upsets Mississippi State, 3-2
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? After suffering through two close losses in the Ole Miss Soccer Invitational this past weekend, the Southern Miss Soccer Team was on the winning end this time, as it defeated Mississippi State, 3-2, Tuesday in Starkville, Miss.
Katie Randolph (So., M, Houston, Texas) scored her first career goal off a cross from Kay Beth Costilow (So., D, Birmingham, Ala.) to break a 2-2 tie and give Southern Miss the win.
The Lady Eagles improved to 1-2 on the season. The loss was the second straight for the defending Southeastern Conference West Champions, who fell to 1-2 on the year.
"This team showed the most character in this win than any other I have coached here," Southern Miss Head Coach Matt Clark said. "We were down 2-1 after the first half, and we had two great goals in the second half to win the game. This is a huge benchmark win for our program."
Mississippi State was the first to score in the match, as forward Amy Van Zandt scored in the 17th minute.
Ten minutes later, senior forward Tricia Wiles (Germantown, Tenn.) tied the match, as she launched a shot from 35 yards out just clearing the cross bar.
The Bulldogs regained the lead, however, as Heather Ammann scored in the 42nd minute to give Mississippi State the 2-1 lead at the break.
In the second half, a determined Lady Eagle team came out attacking. Katie Adams (Sr., F, Collierville, Tenn.) corralled a rebound off Lindsay Canham's (Sr., F, London, England) free kick, finding the back of the net in the 50th minute.
With the score tied, Randolph hit her shot in the 57th minute, and the Lady Eagles' defense held the lead.
"It was a great cross from Kay Beth," Randolph said. "It was a great feeling to score my first goal against an in-state opponent like Mississippi State. We came out in the second half, and we didn't back down."
Junior keeper Leslie Schoeplein (Marietta, Ga.) earned the win in goal, finishing with three saves. Krystal Werges had nine saves in the losing effort. Both teams had 14 shots.
The Lady Eagles stay on the road this week, as they travel to face Middle Tennessee State on Friday. Southern Miss then visits Alabama A&M on Sunday.
