Mississippi State freshman goalie Courtney Hubert and her sister, Erin, were killed Tuesday when the Honda Civic Courtney Hubert was driving crashed into the rear of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer on I-20 between Jackson, the Mississippi capital, and Vicksburg, their hometown.
The crash followed another accident ahead of them that had slowed traffic, according to police reports. Courtney Hubert was 19; Erin Hubert was 12.
Courtney Hubert, an all-state goalie at Warren Central High School in Vicksburg and a member of the Jackson Futbol Club, is the fourth college freshman at a Division I program to die in a car accident this school year.
Hubert played six games for MSU last fall during its 6-13-1 season. With Hubert in goal, it recently completed an impressive spring season. The Bulldogs managed four shutouts in seven spring games and surrendered just five goals overall. Their victories included a 3-0 win over 2002 SEC champion Auburn.
''Courtney's death brings a cloud of sadness over our program and players, and in light of such tragic news, the game of soccer pales into insignificance,'' MSU soccer coach Neil McGuire said. ''Courtney was a wonderful young lady who had the potential to be whatever she wanted to be in life.
''Soccer is what brought Courtney to Mississippi State, and she loved being a Bulldog, and was respected and loved by her teammates and coaches. She will be remembered for her ever-present smile, hard work and, most of all, her class and dedication to her goals. This is a sad day for Mississippi State, our players and everyone who knew Courtney. Courtney will have a legacy here at Mississippi State for being someone who was proud to be a part of this wonderful family. We are thankful for the time we had with her, and I for one was truly honored to be her coach.''
Visitation is set for Thursday 5-8 p.m. at the Fisher Funeral Home in Vicksburg.