Prior to Sunday, Mississippi State had played 33 road matches against ranked teams in program history, which dates back to 1995. The Bulldogs had won exactly one of them.

MSU doubled that win total with a 2-0 victory over No. 18 Kentucky, the Bulldogs’ third straight win and the Wildcats’ first loss of the year.

After a scoreless first half, MSU (9-3-3, 4-2-1 Southeastern Conference) broke the deadlock in the 50th minute on an own goal. Haley McWhirter received the ball in the 18-yard box with only the goalkeeper in front of her, and although Marz Josephson saved McWhirter’s shot, a Kentucky defender inadvertently deflected the rebound into the net to give the Bulldogs the lead.

MSU picked up an insurance tally in the 79th minute. Hannah Johnson sent a long pass forward to Maggie Wadsworth, who dribbled past the defense and fired a shot past Josephson for her third goal of the year. The lead held up thanks to the Bulldogs’ defense and goalkeeper Maddy Anderson, who picked up her third consecutive shutout and her seventh of the season.

Head coach James Armstrong’s team has three regular-season matches remaining before the SEC Tournament. MSU will play its final home match of the regular season Thursday evening against Vanderbilt, followed by two tough road tests against No. 24 Alabama and No. 10 Arkansas.