Mississippi State soccer wins seventh straight Magnolia Cup, 4-1 at Ole Miss

Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss 4-1 on Friday night in Oxford to win the Magnolia Cup for the seventh consecutive year, the longest winning streak by either team in the rivalry’s history. The Bulldogs improved to 7-1-0 overall and 1-0-0 in Southeastern Conference play.

Mississippi State scored three goals in the second half, its highest scoring output against Ole Miss in program history. Laila Murillo recorded her third career multi-goal game, while Kati Anne Shepherd scored the game-winning goal and Kara Harris scored her first goal of the season.

Murillo opened the scoring in the 19th minute by heading in a cross from Chiara Tappe after Reese Wheeler recovered the ball deep in Ole Miss territory and set up the play. Both teams recorded four first-half shots, while Mississippi State goalkeeper Jenny Harrison made four saves in the opening 45 minutes.

Ole Miss tied the match from distance in the 56th minute, ending a 455:28 scoreless stretch in the Magnolia Cup rivalry. Ole Miss’ Jenna Studer received a second yellow card in the 69th minute, and Shepherd scored 18 seconds later to put Mississippi State ahead.

Harris scored from outside the penalty area in the 81st minute. Murillo then drew a penalty in the 85th minute and converted it for the final score.

Mississippi State will host No. 23 Florida on Friday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. Central on SEC Network+ in the Bulldogs’ SEC home opener. It will be State’s first match against its former head coach.

Source: Mississippi State Athletics.