STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s soccer team wrapped up its 2011 home slate with a 2-0 setback to the University of Kentucky on Thursday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
The loss coupled with Alabama’s 1-0 upset of No. 24 Tennessee dropped MSU (5-9-3, 2-6-1 Southeastern Conference) out of the eighth spot for the SEC tournament with two regular-season games remaining.
MSU will play at 2 p.m. Sunday at Vanderbilt.
“I was disappointed in our performance tonight. I didn’t think we had the same toughness we’ve shown the past several matches,” MSU coach Neil Macdonald said. “You have to give a lot of credit to Kentucky. They are a good team who came out here tonight and really played well. We still have a shot at making the SEC tournament, so we have to get back to work getting ready for a huge match at Vanderbilt on Sunday.”
Mississippi State junior goalkeeper Skylar Rosson, a Soccer America National Team of the Week member, made 12 saves, but Kelsey Hunyadi scored a pair of goals and Kayla Price made five saves for the shutout.
n Ole Miss 3, Vanderbilt 0: At Oxford, Dylan Jordan, Alix Hildal, and Meredith Snow scored goals Thursday to lift the Rebels (6-10-1, 2-7). Vanderbilt fell to 8-9 and 2-7.
The three goals marked the fifth time this season Ole Miss has scored at least three goals in a match. It marks the ninth time the Rebels have recorded multiple goals in a game.
“It was a total team performance for us on both sides of the ball,” Ole Miss coach Matt Mott said. “Anytime you can get a shutout in the SEC it’s great. And we scored three great goals, which was key for us. Kelly (McCormick) was excellent in goal and the back line did great for us.”
McCormick recorded her second shutout during SEC play and made five saves.
Ole Miss will play at noon Sunday against Kentucky.
n Alabama 1, No. 24 Tennessee 0: At Tuscaloosa, Ala., Freshman Pia Rijsdijk scored her fourth goal on the season on a near-post blast in the 14th minute Thursday to lead the Crimson Tide (8-7-2, 3-5-1).
“That was a complete performance tonight,” Alabama coach Todd Bramble said. “What we trained this week came through. They kept believing in themselves and a win like this was coming. It was our best game of the year.”
Alabama goalkeeper Justine Bernier made six saves for her sixth shutout of the season.
Alabama will play at 2 p.m. Sunday at Georgia. CSS will televise the match.
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