An early shock to the system put Mississippi State in unfamiliar territory Thursday night in Athens. But the No. 4 Bulldogs were hardly rattled.
Georgia struck quickly for a goal in the second minute, the first time MSU conceded in roughly 637 minutes of game action. Mississippi State battled back, though, equalizing on an Aitana Martinez-Montoya penalty kick and converting the winner with less than five minutes remaining. MSU defeated UGA 2-1 to remain atop the Southeastern Conference table.
State’s defense was uncharacteristically caught napping early when Georgia’s Hannah White slotted a pass to a streaking Margie Detrizio, who took one touch and fired a near post shot into the top corner of the net. There was nothing MSU goalkeeper Maddy Anderson could do as State trailed for the first time since Aug. 25.
MSU (11-1-0, 5-0-0 SEC) was the stronger side for most of the first half after that, with Hannah Johnson hitting the woodwork in the final minute before the break. Early in the second half, Zoe Main received the ball near midfield surrounded by five defenders, but dribbled her way through all of them before being taken down from behind in the box by Kiera Staude.
After consulting video review, the officials awarded MSU a penalty, which Martinez-Montoya buried to tie the score.
Anderson made three big saves in the second half, the biggest coming in the 81st minute when she left her feet to deflect a long shot from Dasia Torbert. MSU then set up the winner with crisp ball movement. Martinez-Montoya split two defenders with her through ball to Johnson, who passed up on the shot for a cross in the box to Izquierdo. The Colombian smashed it home on her first touch to put MSU on top.
State did lose midfielder Alivia Buxton to an apparent leg injury early in the second half, when she limped off the field with help from the training staff. But otherwise, it was a successful business trip for MSU, which returns home Sunday evening to take on Missouri.
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