STARKVILLE — For 70 minutes Friday night against Tennessee, Mississippi State looked like a team hungry to avenge last Sunday’s frustrating loss to LSU.
The Bulldogs were dominating in the shot department and had three goals to show for their efforts, including a brace by Hannah Johnson to tie her for the team lead with three goals on the season. Considering MSU had not allowed even two goals in a match all year before Sunday, the hosts appeared to be in great shape.
And then the Volunteers’ offense came to life, finding the back of the net three times in the final 20 minutes. Tennessee’s equalizer came via an own goal in the 87th minute, and that’s the way things ended, a deflating 3-3 draw.
“A lot of energy expended on both sides,” Bulldogs head coach James Armstrong said. “We just have to learn how to close out a game. When you’re three-nothing up at home (and they) tie the game, regardless of who the opposition is, that’s going to leave a bitter taste in the mouth.”
Johnson and MSU (6-3-3, 1-2-1 Southeastern Conference) struck first in the 29th minute to cap a beautiful sequence. Ruthny Mathurin sent a long ball toward the box to Maggie Wadsworth, who one-timed it to Zoe Main. Main sent a cross through two defenders in front of the net to Johnson, who flicked it in with her right foot past Volunteers goalkeeper Abigail Reisz.
The Bulldogs doubled their lead shortly before halftime as Ally Perry took advantage of some miscommunication by Tennessee (6-2-3, 1-1-2) between Reisz and one of her defenders. Maria Nelson inadvertently deflected the ball just before Reisz could scoop it up, and Perry was in the right place at the right time to hammer it home.
“The goals were amazing. Whole team effort, honestly,” Johnson said. “We played really well. Defensively, we should look at some things, but other than that, our execution was great.”
MSU seemingly put the game away in the 54th minute. Macey Hodge and Haley McWhirter played a little give-and-go near the left sideline just outside the 18-yard box, and McWhirter lifted a ball into the box straight to Johnson’s forehead. The junior from Middleburg, Fla., redirected it perfectly into the corner of the goal for her first collegiate multi-goal game.
But the Bulldogs’ airtight defense deserted them late. The Volunteers got on the board in the 73rd minute, then cut their deficit to 3-2 five minutes later on a corner kick when Jordan Fusco put home a rebound. Tennessee’s game-tying goal came on another corner, as MSU goalkeeper Maddy Anderson’s clearance attempt hit the underside of the crossbar and caromed down beyond the baseline.
The Bulldogs continue SEC play at Florida on Thursday, then return home on Oct. 8 to take on rival Ole Miss in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
“The good news is, you don’t have to motivate these players,” Armstrong said. “They’re a great group, they’re working really hard, they believe. Thankfully for us, that makes it a lot easier. We’re going to score goals, we’re going to create more chances and keep going. Hopefully we get a little bit of luck here and there. I don’t think we had that tonight.”
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