Mississippi State picks up first NCAA Tournament win

STARKVILLE – State’s historic season continues after defeating New Mexico State, 2-1, on Friday night within the NCAA Event’s opening spherical.

Sophomore defender Rylie Combs’ 87th-minute header helped safe State its first NCAA event win in program historical past.

“First off, I would prefer to congratulate New Mexico State on an unbelievable season,” head coach James Armstrong mentioned. “It was a very hard-fought sport, and so they did an amazing job. We knew that we might need to be placing in a very good efficiency, and we did it tonight.”

For the primary 44 minutes, neither crew might discover the again of the web. Each groups had solely recorded three photographs earlier than MSU’s Alivia Buxton delivered the primary objective of the sport 30 seconds earlier than the half. The objective is now the third of the season for the freshman.

The Aggies would seize the equalizer within the 73rd minute. Nonetheless, after solely registering two photographs within the first 45 minutes, MSU would rattle off 13 photographs within the second half alone.

With solely three minutes left in regulation, Combs headed within the ball off a nook from sophomore Haley McWhirter. It is now the second time in three video games State has gained off a late-minute header.

I’d additionally prefer to thank the followers for popping out tonight,” Armstrong added. “An unbelievable turnout tonight, nice crowd. [Special thanks to] all of the individuals [it took] into placing on an unbelievable occasion – amenities, the groundskeeper, administration, the whole lot else. It was a very nice evening on the sector, and we’re pleased with everybody that was part of it.”

The No. 7-seed Bulldogs will proceed its postseason run subsequent weekend (Nov. 18-20) and can face the winner of Memphis and Saint Louis. Kickoff time and site can be introduced following the conclusion of first spherical matches.