Spring Break
Soccer tops Rice, falls to Central Florida
Sean Armstrong
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Sports
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"Communication between the back four is still an issue for us," MacDonald said. "We have to be physically tougher inside the 18-yard box. Two of the goals tonight were balls that were knocked down, and we were second to them."
By Sunday, the advice seemed heeded as State went on to record a 2-1 overtime win against Rice.
After suffering so many late goals in recent games, State flipped the trend Sunday after Jessica Davis' header with six minutes remaining sent the match into overtime.
Graben's goal after 103 minutes proved to be the game winner as the Bulldogs earned their first home win of the season.
MacDonald chose to employ Graben and Ferguson up top again to form an attacking three with Davis in the hole behind them and the combination has started to pay dividends.
"Davis is very effective in there; she's strong and powerful and wins a lot of balls," MacDonald said. "The other side of it is Katelyn Graben, who's very fast and can pin back their back line."
The goal scorers took some of the burden off Ferguson, whose five goals in five games set a record for points earned in consecutive games.
Kate Edwards had given Rice the lead just two minutes into the match off Erin Scott's pass, leaving MSU with the all too familiar task of chasing an equalizer.
It was no easy task, as the Owls were not content to sit back and defend their lead.
Holland kept-faced nine shots as State's offensive pressure left gaps for Rice's forwards to exploit.
Edwards hit the crossbar and Ferguson went close a few times but neither team could find a goal as both keepers were on top form.
The equalizer finally came on the 84th minute courtesy of Davis' header from Frazier's free kick.
By this time, MSU was clearly in the ascendancy, and a deserved lead was taken 13 minutes into the ensuing overtime.
Again it was Frazier providing the final pass, this time a lob-up the middle for Graben to race on to, beating goalkeeper Meghan Erkel for her second game winner of the season.
By Sunday, the advice seemed heeded as State went on to record a 2-1 overtime win against Rice.
After suffering so many late goals in recent games, State flipped the trend Sunday after Jessica Davis' header with six minutes remaining sent the match into overtime.
Graben's goal after 103 minutes proved to be the game winner as the Bulldogs earned their first home win of the season.
MacDonald chose to employ Graben and Ferguson up top again to form an attacking three with Davis in the hole behind them and the combination has started to pay dividends.
"Davis is very effective in there; she's strong and powerful and wins a lot of balls," MacDonald said. "The other side of it is Katelyn Graben, who's very fast and can pin back their back line."
The goal scorers took some of the burden off Ferguson, whose five goals in five games set a record for points earned in consecutive games.
Kate Edwards had given Rice the lead just two minutes into the match off Erin Scott's pass, leaving MSU with the all too familiar task of chasing an equalizer.
It was no easy task, as the Owls were not content to sit back and defend their lead.
Holland kept-faced nine shots as State's offensive pressure left gaps for Rice's forwards to exploit.
Edwards hit the crossbar and Ferguson went close a few times but neither team could find a goal as both keepers were on top form.
The equalizer finally came on the 84th minute courtesy of Davis' header from Frazier's free kick.
By this time, MSU was clearly in the ascendancy, and a deserved lead was taken 13 minutes into the ensuing overtime.
Again it was Frazier providing the final pass, this time a lob-up the middle for Graben to race on to, beating goalkeeper Meghan Erkel for her second game winner of the season.
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