Mississippi State Wins Seventh Consecutive Magnolia Cup in Soccer Rivalry

Mississippi State extended its winning streak in the Magnolia Cup rivalry to seven years with a 4-1 victory over Ole Miss on Friday night in Oxford, Mississippi. The win marked the longest winning streak by either team in the rivalry’s history, according to the school.

The Bulldogs (7-1-0, 1-0 SEC) scored three second-half goals, their highest scoring output against Ole Miss in program history. Laila Murillo led the team with her third career multi-goal game. Kati Anne Shepherd scored the game-winner, and Kara Harris added her first goal of the season.

Head coach Kevin O’Brien praised his team’s resilience amid a physical game. “It was chippy early on, then it stayed chippy throughout,” he said. “It was a heavyweight fight. They slugged us. We slugged them back. I’m proud of the way these girls battled.”

The game featured intense moments, including a goal by Murillo in the 19th minute after a cross from Reese Wheeler. Both teams took four shots in the first half, with Ole Miss’s Jenny Harrison making four saves. Ole Miss equalized in the 56th minute, ending a 455-minute scoring drought in the rivalry.

Ole Miss’s Jenna Studer received a second yellow card in the 69th minute, leading to Shepherd’s game-winning goal 18 seconds later. Harris scored from outside the box in the 81st minute, and Murillo converted a penalty kick in the 85th minute to seal the victory. O’Brien said the late goals helped secure the win, but he remained cautious, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of soccer.

Mississippi State will host No. 23 Florida on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+. The match will be the first against its former coach and serve as SEC home opener. Fans can follow the team on X, Facebook, and Instagram under “HailStateSOC.”

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