Mississippi State
4-7-3, 1-4-1SEC
#20 Tennessee
11-3-0, 4-2-0SEC
Bulldogs Fall 2-0 To No. 15 Tennessee
October 09, 2011 | Soccer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Despite a valiant effort, Mississippi State was unable to defeat a ranked opponent for the second-straight Sunday as the Bulldogs fell 2-0 to No. 15 Tennessee in Knoxville.
The loss dropped MSU to 4-7-3 overall and 1-4-1 in league play. Tennessee improved to 11-3 and 4-2.
Junior Lauren Morgan, sophomore Elisabeth Sullivan and junior Jasmine Simmons fired two shots each, with Morgan putting both of her first-half attempts on target.
Two days removed from a school-record 19 saves against Georgia, Rosson turned back seven attempts on Sunday. Lady Vols keeper Julie Eckel made five saves in the match.
"I think we were tired physically and mentally after such a tough match on Friday," Bulldog head coach Neil Macdonald said. "We fought hard and played a very good Tennessee team close for 90 minutes. We have to learn from this weekend and get back to work to prepare for another tough weekend at home against South Carolina and Florida."
Both teams traded possession for the first 16 minutes on Sunday, but Tennessee punched the deciding goal across with 29:55 left in the opening half. Kylie Bono took possession on the left side of the 18-yard box off a Bulldog turnover. She centered a ball to Emily Dowd, who volleyed a shot past Rosson for the 1-0 lead.
Morgan just missed finding Tarah Henderson for a Bulldog scoring opportunity in the opening session. The Keller, Texas, native sent a ball over the top of the defense that Eckel claimed just before Henderson could reach it.
The Lady Vols nearly scored a second goal midway through the opening half, but Bulldog senior Serena Prendergast cleared the ball off the line to keep the Tennessee lead at 1-0 going to halftime.
Rosson claimed an early second-half corner kick by the Lady Vols, and the Bulldogs countered to create a scoring opportunity. State worked the ball to Sullivan on the left side, but her attempt on the lower-left post was covered by Eckel.
Tennessee, however, converted with 41:08 left in the match. UT found Chelsea Hatcher seven yards out, and she beat Rosson to the left side of the net to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Bulldogs kept fighting, and a minute later Dana Forbes fired a shot that Eckel managed to save.
Rosson kept the match at 2-0 in the 57th minute as she stopped three UT shots in a three-minute span, including a point-blank attempt from Caroline Brown.
Mississippi State responded by pushing the ball into Tennessee territory, but an attempt from Jasmine Simmons carried wide while another shot from Amy Hoover was stopped by Eckel.
The Dawgs nearly connected with Sullivan again in the 66th minute, but the ball that skipped through the UT defensive line was cleared away. On the ensuing throw-in, Sullivan created a shot that carried just wide of target.
The Bulldogs return home next weekend, hosting South Carolina and No. 11 Florida. State challenges the Gamecocks at 7 p.m. Friday as part of the first Maroon Madness before wrapping the weekend against the Gators at 1 p.m. Sunday. Admission to all matches at the MSU Soccer Field is free.
Mississippi State (4-7-3, 1-4-1 SEC) vs. Tennessee (11-3-0, 4-2-0 SEC)
Date: Oct 09, 2011 Attendance: 1378
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Mississippi State... 0 0 - 0
Tennessee........... 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 15:05 TN Emily Dowd (10) (Kylie Bono) - #8 pass from left wing to just near left post, volleyed in #20 5 yds.
2. 48:52 TN Chelsea Hatcher (3) (Emily Dowd) - Pass from right wing into middle, settled and finished by #6 7 yds.
Shots: Mississippi State 10, Tennessee 18
Saves: Mississippi State 8 (Skylar Rosson 7; TEAM 1), Tennessee 5
(Julie Eckel 5)
Team Stats
Emily Dowd (10)
Assisted By: Kylie Bono
#8 pass from left wing to just near left
15:05
Chelsea Hatcher (3)
Assisted By: Emily Dowd
Pass from right wing into middle, settle
48:52
