University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
1-2-0, 0-0-0
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Mississippi State
3-0-0, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Miss. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi St. | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Southern Miss Falls to Mississippi State on the Road
8/23/2026 8:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Southern Miss women's soccer took on Mississippi State Sunday at the MSU Soccer Complex in a non-conference road match, falling 4-0 to the Bulldogs. The Golden Eagles faced a tough test against an experienced opponent and will use the experience to prepare for the home stretch of non-conference play.
Mississippi State controlled the tempo early, scoring at 18' through Laila Murillo. The Bulldogs extended their lead before halftime when Kati Anne Shepherd added a goal at 44' assisted by Elsa Johnson. Southern Miss made adjustments at the break and competed throughout the second half against a well-organized opponent.
Logan McGruder played the full 90 minutes in goal for the Golden Eagles, making multiple saves to keep the match manageable. McGruder's performance in net kept the team in position to make a second-half push. While Mississippi State capitalized on offensive opportunities with goals from Shepherd at 65' and Murillo again at 71', Southern Miss' defensive unit continued to work and stayed composed.
Coach Owens' squad created opportunities in the first half, with Ava Bynes generating chances in the attacking third. The Golden Eagles' efforts on the road against SEC competition provide valuable experience heading into the home schedule. Non-conference road matches like this build resilience and prepare the team for the challenges ahead.
The loss is the second straight for Southern Miss, but the Golden Eagles return to Hattiesburg ready to refocus on the home opener Thursday against Southeastern.
Up Next
Southern Miss returns home to open the promotional calendar on Thursday, August 27 against Southeastern at 4 p.m. at Marshall Bell Track & Field/Soccer Complex. Admission is free.
For more information and to stay up to date with the Golden Eagles, visit SouthernMiss.com and follow the women's soccer team on Twitter (@SouthernMissSOC) and Instagram (@southernmisssoccer).
– #SMTTT –
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Laila Murillo (2)
GOAL by MSU Murillo, Laila.
18:02
Kati Anne Shepherd (3)
Assisted By: Elsa Johnson
GOAL by MSU Shepherd, Kati Anne Assist by Johnson, Elsa.
44:05
Kati Anne Shepherd (3)
GOAL by MSU Shepherd, Kati Anne.
65:50
Laila Murillo (2)
Assisted By: Kati Anne Shepherd
GOAL by MSU Murillo, Laila Assist by Shepherd, Kati Anne.
71:32
