State Drops Road Match at No. 19/15 Vanderbilt, 1-0

Thursday, October 4

Nashville, Tenn.

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

8-3-1 (1-3-1)

#19 Vanderbilt

12-1 (5-0)

Mississippi State

Vanderbilt

State Drops Road Match at No. 19/15 Vanderbilt, 1-0

October 04, 2018 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mississippi State dropped a hard-fought defensive battle to No. 19/15 Vanderbilt on Thursday night. The Commodores' Raegan Kelley scored in the 76^th minute for the only goal of the match.

The No. 25/18 Bulldogs blocked the initial service on the goal, but the deflected ball came straight to Kelley. She headed the ball into the left side of the net between two State defenders.

"We were outplayed," head coach Tom Anagnost said. "The better team won. We didn't deserve to get anything out of the game. I'm disappointed. This is our worst performance of the year."

MSU (8-3-1, 1-3-1 SEC) had its best chance to score in the final 30 seconds of the match. Redshirt sophomore Olivia Hernandez got her head to a clearance from the Vanderbilt (12-1-0, 5-0-0) keeper and sent the ball ahead to junior MaKayla Waldner. Waldner would have been clear for a one-on-one with the Commodore keeper, but was called offsides.

In the 81^st minute, MSU took a free kick from 30 yards out. Senior Brooke McKee struck it hard but left of the post.

State was whistled for five offsides calls on the night. The Bulldogs were outshot, 15-7, and only put one shot on target. Senior Carly Mauldin took three shots, but all three were over the bar.

The loss marks the first time since 2015 that MSU has been shutout in three consecutive matches.

State will be back in Starkville on Sunday afternoon to host Alabama. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

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