Mississippi State edges No. 6 Alabama in regular-season finale
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Chiara Tappe scored in the 25th minute, and Mississippi State held off No. 6 Alabama for a 1-0 victory Sunday in the regular-season finale. The win improved the Bulldogs to 9-2-6 overall and 3-1-6 in Southeastern Conference play.
Tappe put away a header after Kyli Switalski sent a corner kick into the six-yard box. Tappe had forced the corner with a shot that was saved, then rose above Alabama defenders and goalkeeper to score. It was the first official goal of her career; an earlier goal against Arkansas State was not counted after that match was abandoned because of inclement weather.
Mississippi State pressed early, recording four shots in the first 15 minutes and holding a 10-5 advantage in shots at halftime. Alabama (14-4, 7-3) responded after the break, outshooting the Bulldogs 8-2. The Crimson Tide had seven shots in the final 20 minutes, but three were saved and two were blocked.
Goalkeeper Jenny Harrison made six saves, including three in the second half, to secure the shutout. Her eight shutouts this season moved her to fourth in Mississippi State’s single-season record book, the school said. The Bulldogs also said Harrison’s career goals-against average of 0.74 would be a school record.
The result marked coach Kevin O’Brien’s first career win against a team ranked in the USC/IWSOC coaches’ poll. Mississippi State is 1-0-3 against ranked opponents this season and has won or drawn six of its past seven games against top-10 teams. Alabama entered Sunday ranked No. 5 in the RPI, making the victory the Bulldogs’ first against an RPI top-50 opponent this season.
Mississippi State finished tied for seventh in the SEC standings and earned the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament in Pensacola, Florida. The Bulldogs were picked 14th in the preseason coaches’ poll, matching the 2023 team for the program’s biggest finish above its preseason projection since the SEC eliminated divisions in 2013.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to play No. 9 seed Texas in the tournament’s first round Sunday, Nov. 8. The calendar listed kickoff for 4:30 p.m. Central on the SEC Network.
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