DEFENSE PROPELS MISSISSIPPI STATE TO 1-0 WIN OVER #17 GEORGIA

ATHENS, Ga. – Mississippi State (6-8-1, 2-4-1 Southeastern Conference) battled for its biggest win of the season on Friday night, defeating 17th-ranked Georgia (12-2-1, 5-1-1 SEC), 1-0, at the UGA Soccer Field in Athens. With nine shots on the evening, the lone shot on goal came from sophomore Katelyn Graben at 80:59. The goal was unassisted and the Gulfport, Miss.-native’s fourth of the season.

The win snapped MState’s 13 game road losing streak and marked the first home and conference loss for Georgia this season. “I thought we battled for 90 minutes tonight,” said MState Head Coach Neil Macdonald. “Our back four played outstanding. To beat the top team in the conference on their home field is huge and really shows the character these girls have.”  Homestanding Georgia had 16 attempts to find the net during the opening period, but a strong MState defense and eight saves from Holland thwarted Georgia’s scoring chances.

State managed four shot opportunities during the half, the first coming from senior Treena Ferguson. The Ontario, Canada-native’s shot at the 40-minute mark went just wide of the goal.  Later in the period, sophomore Ashlee Drake, earning her first start of the season, Ferguson and junior Bethany Frazier each had chances to score for MState but all three shots went wide.
 

 Sunday October 21 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Mississippi State University women’s soccer team (6-9-1, 2-5-1 Southeastern Conference) dropped a 4-0 decision to the 11th-ranked University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers (11-2-2, 6-1-1 SEC) on Sunday afternoon at the Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.
 

 In the first period, Tennessee broke the scoreless tie at 34:40 on a six-yard left-side shot by Tanya Emerson from Kylee Rossi, which sneaked passed Holland to give the Lady Vols a 1-0 advantage heading into the break.

 Tennessee’s second goal of the game came from Rossi at 57:46. The rebound shot was from six yards out and scored in the lower left corner. Minutes later at 60:33, Emily Redberg scored the Lady Vols’ third shot. Redberg added her second goal of the day at 66:12 on a pass from Mick Ingram.

 State’s first shot of the second half came from senior forward Treena Ferguson. Ferguson’s shot was on target, but UT goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson came up with the save. It was State’s second shot of the afternoon.

 MSU’s one corner kick on the day came at 79:19. Caitlin Gallagher’s kick went to the goal but Tennessee was able to clear the ball without the Bulldogs making a shot attempt. 
 

The MSU defense posted two key stops during the second half. Jordan Falcusan’s two shots in the 51st minute came close to crossing the goal line, but after the team registered a save, Falcusan’s second shot was blocked.

 Goalkeeper Taryn Holland recorded three saves on 27 Lady Vol shots, 13 of those coming during the opening stanza. Senior Stephanie Dallas recorded 21 minutes in goal on the afternoon, holding the Lady Vols at bay allowing no goals, with one save on four UT shots.
 

MSU returns home on Thursday evening to host the Kentucky Wildcats in a 7 p.m. contest from the MSU Soccer Field. The Bulldogs will honor the 2007 senior class which includes Treena Ferguson from Sarnia, Ontario.