Cats still may qualify for SEC Tournament

LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Mississippi State?s Ngum Suh scored the game winner in the 63rd minute to lead the Bulldogs to a 1-0 win over Kentucky Sunday afternoon at the UK Soccer Complex. Mississippi State (7-8-3, 4-5-1) clinches an SEC Tournament berth with the victory, while the Cats (6-10-1, 3-6-1) remain in contention for the final tournament spot despite the loss.

From deep in the left flank, MSU?s Betty Ann Casey struck a diagonal pass toward the goal from that eluded the UK backfield. The Bulldogs? Suh outraced Kentucky goalkeeper Liz Butler to the loose ball and buried it from 10 yards out for the only goal Mississippi State would need.

Kentucky had plenty of scoring opportunities, as evidenced by its 15 shots and seven on goal, but the Cats failed to dent the net. UK also generated seven corner kicks to none for the Bulldogs. Kentucky?s Erin Witchey got a head on a 79th-minute Ashley Janning corner kick, but MSU goalkeeper Emily Meyers recorded the save. An 82nd-minute Callie Lanphier shot rolled just wide of the right post, and moments later, Lanphier had the ball and a clear shot to the goal from eight yards but lost control of the ball when preparing for the shot.

A Wildcat victory next Friday against Vanderbilt would give Kentucky the eighth and final seed in the conference tournament, set to begin Nov. 4 at Auburn. Should Kentucky lose to Vanderbilt, UK could still qualify for the tournament with a Georgia loss Friday at Tennessee and ties or losses from Arkansas and South Carolina. Kentucky is the only SEC school to qualify for all 11 conference tournaments.

Goals: MSU ? Suh (Casey), 62:03
Goalkeepers: UK: Liz Butler ? 1 goal, 3 saves; MSU ? Emily Meyers ? 0 goals, 6 saves
Attendance: 442