STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State answered an early goal from the University of South Alabama soccer team less than a minute later and neither team could find the net again in a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field.

South Alabama (2-4-1) hands Mississippi State (6-0-1) its first blemish of the season, thanks to a goal from senior Danielle Henley.

GAME FACTS
-Henley got the Jaguars on the board at 16:41 when freshman Ana Helmert won the ball along the left sideline and fed a wide open Henley at the top of the 18-yard box, who lobbed the goalkeeper
-The Bulldogs responded 55 seconds later on a free kick from Courtney Robicheaux from 20 yards out that went into the left corner
-Mississippi State outshot South Alabama 10-6 in the first half and put seven of their 10 attempts on net
-The shots advantage was 10-4 MSU after halftime, but only 3-1 in shots on goal
-Jaguar sophomore Justice Stanford was forced to make a save at close range on a header from A.K. Ward at 53:39, and MSU's Mallory Eubanks skied an attempt over the crossbar at the six-yard box six minutes later
-Helmert and Henley combined for seven of USA's 10 shots and two of the four on net
-Stanford set a new career high with 10 saves

NOTES
-Today marked the second straight double-overtime contest between the two schools, and third overall; USA has a 1-1-1 record in overtime games vs. MSU
-Henley's goal was her first of 2017 – the 19th of her career – and the first time she's found the net since Oct 16, 2016 vs. Coastal Carolina.
-Helmert, who scored her first career goal on Thursday against Southeastern Louisiana, recorded her first career assist today
-The Jaguars were outshot for the first time since Florida State, a span of four games
-Mississippi State 24 shots and 11 on goal were both season highs by a South Alabama opponent

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
Overall thoughts on the game: "I thought it was a great first-half performance for us in terms of creating chances and having the upper hand. Despite what the stats say, I thought we were always in it. We were more defensive in the second half and could have caught them on the counter a couple of times. I thought we could have done a better job punishing them going forward. Overall, I think we're satisfied with the performance, but maybe not the result."

On Henley's goal: "Danielle Henley, that was one of her better games and she's more than capable of getting into the final third and punishing teams. Today, it wasn't just the ball movement, but the ball sat nicely, and composed as you like, she chipped it over the goalkeeper's head. It's a great goal and a great reflection of what our team is capable of offensively."

On the defense holding up to 24 shots: "Our chances were clear-cut chances. We created way better chances than they did. Their chances were from getting the ball wide and crossing it into the box, and we were able to absorb that pressure."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars open Sun Belt Conference action Friday at home vs. Appalachian State at 7 p.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Upper 90 Club, the soccer specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All gifts to the Upper 90 Club go directly to support the South Alabama soccer program.  For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/upper90

—USA—