CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College women's soccer team opened up Gulf South Conference play on Sunday with a 3-1 victory over the Lady Stateswomen of Delta State University. The victory brings the Lady Choctaw's record to 4-2 on the year.
 
"I thought the ladies played really well today," Head Coach Darryl Longabaugh said. "I'm really proud of the way they competed. This was a very nice win for us to open up conference play, especially against an in-state rival."
 
Lauren Smith led the offensive attack for the Lady Choctaws, scoring her first two goals of the season during the match. Kyra Montes was able to notch her first career goal as a Lady Choctaw. She also added an assist on the day. Meghan Mauzy, Emma Claire Furman and Lauren Kate Carter all also chipped in for an assist.
 
Montes got the Lady Choctaws on the board first when she found the back of the net in the 8^th minute. Mauzy helped set up the score. Fast forward to the 23^rd minute of play, as Smith took a pass form Furman and struck pay dirt with her first goal of the year. The Lady Choctaw defense would clamp down and go on to hold the Delta State attack to just one shot taken in the entire first half.
 
Smith scored the lone goal for MC in the second half. It occurred in the 61^st minute when Montes and Carter worked together to initiate Smith's second score of the afternoon. A late goal by Delta State's Catherine Thomason in the 84^th minute gave way to the final score of 3-1.
 
MC outshot Delta State 25 to 12 in the contest.  The Lady Choctaws put up 16 shots on frame during the match, to Lady Statesmen's five.
 
Carter and Katie Taylor each took four shots on the day, with three shots on goal. Montes and Furman took three shots, with two on frame. Daisy Rodgers added two shots on goal, and Sydney Oliver and Sara Hodges both accouted for a shot on goal. Gaylynn Cooper added two shots, and Samantha Carson and Hannah Bailey also took a shot.
 
In Goal, Andrea McDonald recorded her third win of the season. She grabbed one save in 65 minutes of play. Gabby Kayser worked the last 25 minutes of action, collecting three saves during that time.
 
MC took six corner kicks during the game, compared to Delta State's seven. MC committed three offside infractions, to Delta State's two. The Lady Choctaws racked up four fouls in the game, compared to the Lady Statesmen's eight. Each team both received a yellow card during the match.
 
The Lady Choctaws return to action on Friday, Sept. 23, when they host Union University at Longabaugh FIeld in a Gulf South Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.