Mississippi State
4-7-3, 2-3-2SEC
#20 Kentucky
9-3-3, 3-2-2SEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi State | 1 | 2 | 3 |
MSU Downs No. 20 Kentucky In Scoring Barrage, 3-0
October 12, 2015 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Propelled by an outstanding two-goal performance from freshman Red Bruffett, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-7-3, 2-3-2 SEC) knocked off the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats (9-3-3, 3-2-2 SEC) 3-0, in front of an electric home crowd.
The victory for the Maroon and White was the first win against a ranked opponent since Oct. 16, 2011 when State took down the No. 11 Florida Gators (1-0). MSU also snapped a five-game skid to the Wildcats, while the four wins on the year eclipses last year's three-win total.
“Anytime there is an opportunity to get points in this league we have to go get them and that's what we did tonight,” MSU coach Aaron Gordon said. “The challenge we had before us was to beat a team that was in the upper half of this league and I couldn't be prouder of how our team responded to that. It's about controlling our own destiny and not letting others decide it.”
With the win, MSU is 10th in the league after climbing two places over the weekend. The top 10 squads qualify for the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., on Nov. 2-8. The trip to the conference tourney would be the first for the Bulldogs since 2004.
Coming into Sunday night's match, the Maroon and White looked for a spark after the sluggish performance against Georgia on Friday. In the 33rd minute the Bulldogs would kindle the flame, after a sprinting Mallory Eubanks found Bruffett on the right wing for the score.
“Tonight we played hard and we connected as a unit,” Bruffett said. “After that first goal it became real to us, because at that point we believed that we were going to win.”
MSU would carry the 1-0 lead in the locker room, after holding UK to only two shots in the half. In the 66th minute UK's Kaitlin Miller earned a penalty kick from inside the box. With the momentum hanging in the balance, freshman Courtney Tompkins stood her ground as the shot sailed wide.
For Tompkins, Sunday night's match was her first start of her young career with the Bulldogs. She earned a clean sheet against the Wildcats, saving three shots between the posts.
Bruffett would extend the lead in the 70th minute with a goal to go up 2-0, this time scoring on a header. Freshman Kiley Martens would pick up her first-career assist on score the after finding Bruffett inside the box.
Up 2-0, Bruffett would swap roles and assist redshirt freshman Morgan Mills for a strike to put the exclamation point on the 3-0 win.
“Red (Bruffett) is a talent and that's why we wanted her here at Mississippi State,” Gordon said. “She's a goal scorer and it showed tonight.”
State outshot the Wildcats 11-6, while earning a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal. UK edged out MSU in corners, 8-5.
“We wanted to build together as a team and we were so positive coming into this game,” Bruffett said. “Our confidence is through the roof and we cant wait to get back out on the field.”
The Maroon and White return home on Friday night as the Florida Gators (10-3-1, 4-2-1 SEC) come into town. The 7 p.m. match will be broadcasted on the SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app.
For more information on the Mississippi State soccer program, follow “HailStateSOC” on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
Red Bruffett (2)
Assisted By: Mallory Eubanks
GOAL by MSU Red Bruffett (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Mallory Eubanks, goal number 2 for season.
33:12
Red Bruffett (3)
Assisted By: Kiley Martens
Header GOAL by MSU Red Bruffett, Assist by Kiley Martens, goal number 3 for season.
70:04
Morgan Mills (1)
Assisted By: Red Bruffett
GOAL by MSU Morgan Mills, Assist by Red Bruffett, goal number 1 for season.
82:25
