Dawgs and Lady Vols Battle to a Thrilling 3-3 Draw in Friday Night Soccer Showdown

Friday, September 29

Starkville

7:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

6-3-3, 1-2-1

Tennessee

6-2-3, 1-1-2

Tennessee

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Dawgs and Lady Vols Battle to a Thrilling 3-3 Draw in Friday Night Soccer Showdown

September 29, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Lance Pardue, Communications Fellow

STARKVILLE - In a thrilling Friday night soccer matchup at the MSU Soccer Field, the Bulldogs (6-3-3, 1-2-1 SEC) squared off against the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee (6-2-3, 1-1-2 SEC) in a women's college soccer showdown that ended in a 3-3 draw.

The game was an intense battle from start to finish as the Maroon and White faithful welcomed the Soccer Dawgs back home with cowbells aplenty as the match got underway just as the sun set on Starkville.

The Bulldogs got off to a strong start, scoring two goals in the first half. In the 29th minute, Mississippi State notched their opening goal when Hannah Johnson skillfully placed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, courtesy of an assist from Zoe Main and Maggie Wadsworth. In the 43rd minute, the Bulldogs extended their lead as Ally Perry seized an opportunity in the box, capitalizing on a miscommunication among Tennessee players and slotting a close-range shot into the net.

Johnson was not done getting in on the scoring action just yet as she opened the scoring in the second half, sending a perfectly placed header into the side net off a serve from the duo of Macey Hodge and Haley McWhirter in the 54^th minute to make it 3-nill Dawgs.

Sizzy Lawton ignited the comeback for Tennessee with a goal in the 72nd minute and Jordan Fusco followed suit in the 77th. Tennessee benefited from an own goal by State in the 86th minute to pull even at 3-3.

Both teams displayed exceptional skill and determination, creating numerous scoring opportunities. Tennessee had a total of 14 shots, while Mississippi State unleashed 23 shots, making it a high-intensity contest from both sides.

The goalkeepers played their part as well, with Maddy Anderson guarding the net for Mississippi State with three saves and Ally Zazzara and Abigail Reisz splitting time in goal for Tennessee, registering two saves combined.

The match featured a total of 10 corner kicks, with Tennessee taking seven and Mississippi State three.

In the end, neither team could secure the win, as the final score stood at 3-3, a testament to the competitiveness of both squads. The Bulldogs and Lady Volunteers put on a captivating display of women's college soccer, leaving fans eager to see what these talented teams have in store for the rest of the season as SEC play continues to rage on.

The Bulldogs will return to the pitch on Thursday night when they travel to Gainesville for a matchup with Florida. The match is slated for a 5:00 kick and will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.

Quoting Head Coach James Armstrong
JA: "Just a really physical game end to end. A lot of energy from both sides. Playing the number twelve school in the country, scored three goals with 23 shots, that is a really good attacking display. I thought defensively we were great as well. We just need to learn how to close out a game. When you are up three nothing at home and then tie the game 3-3... regardless of who the team is, it is going to leave a bitter taste in your mouth for a little bit. As a coaching staff, we will take responsibility for that. We have got to look at how we can train them to have a little bit more confidence in those moments and maybe some different things that we could have done. We will look at that and help the players before we play the next game."

Quoting Junior Midfielder Hannah Johnson
HJ: "The goals were amazing. Just the whole team's effort honestly. I think we played well. Defensively, I think we should look at some things. Other than that, I think our execution is great. I think the rest of the game went well and we will continue to work hard to secure hard fought results throughout SEC Play."

For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on X, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSoc."

– HailState.com –