Mississippi State
3-14-0 (0-10-0)
Arkansas
8-5-5 (4-3-3)
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soccer Falls To Arkansas On Senior Night
October 27, 2014 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State closed the 2014 home slate with a 3-0 setback to Arkansas in a physical Sunday night battle at the MSU Soccer Field.
The loss put Mississippi State at 3-14-0 overall, 0-10-0 in SEC play. The win clinched Arkansas a spot in the SEC Tournament with a 4-3-3 league mark and 8-5-5 overall tally.
It was the final home contest for senior Shannen Jainudeen, who has enjoyed a banner season with seven goals. She was honored prior to the game along with former teammates Dana Forbes and Amy Hoover.
“Shannen has made a lot of sacrifices for this team,” Aaron Gordon said of his senior. “She's played up front a lot, but tonight was a game we needed her in the back due to Arkansas' aerial assault. She has a lot to be proud of in her college career, and she's ending it playing her best soccer.”
A Bulldog side ravaged by injury battled valiantly, creating five on-goal chances. Freshman Kelly Dorney had three of those opportunities in her first action since Oct. 5.
“It has caught us bad here at the end of the year from an injury standpoint. We missed some players tonight who would have helped us with the direct style Arkansas plays, but you still have to come out and play,” Gordon said. “I think we battled hard and snuck in a few chances around the box. If we were a little luckier we might could have gotten a break that would have turned the tide for us.”
Neither team could test the keepers the first 15 minutes of the contest. Arkansas thought it had the breakthrough strike a pair of times, only to have the goals waved off due to offsides.
The Razorbacks did put the winner in the net in the 31st minute as Lindsey Mayo fired one from 35 yards out that snuck just between the bar and MSU goalie Rhylee DeCrane's fingertips.
Alexandra Fisher made it a 2-0 game two minutes later, putting one in from just outside the MSU penalty area.
State found its best chance of the half in the 36th minute. The Dawgs worked the ball into the final third and found Starkville native Tiffany Huddleston in front of goal, but Razorback keeper Cameron Carter managed to tip the ball just wide of the near post.
Dorney had her first opportunity of the game denied by Carter in the 44th minute, and Arkansas took the 2-0 lead to halftime.
State managed to create seven shots in the second half, but it was unable to capitalize on the three chances on target.
DeCrane made five of her six saves in the second half, but she was unable to stop a Madison Hall shot in the 78th minute that provided the final advantage for the visiting side.
Carter had five stops to register the clean sheet.
Mississippi State hits the road to wrap the season, traveling to South Carolina Thursday for a 6 p.m. CST kickoff on the SEC Network +.
Team Stats
Lindsey Mayo (3)
Assisted By: Ashleigh Ellenwood
from 35 yards top shelf
30:09
Alexandra Fischer (5)
Assisted By: Ashleigh Ellenwood , Hannah Neece
Headed across off throw in. Shot in from
32:02
Madison Hall
Assisted By: Lindsey Mayo , Ashleigh Ellenwood
GOAL by AR Madison Hall, Assist by Lindsey Mayo and Ashleigh Ellenwood.
77:21
