Oct. 21, 2001
KENTUCKY LOSES IN OVERTIME AT MISSISSIPPI STATE
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Freshman forward Jessi Moore’s shot from 25-yards out slipped past Kentucky senior goalkeeper Beth Wells’ reach at the 92:02 mark of overtime play to lift Mississippi State (10-6-0/3-3-0 Southeastern Conference) over visiting Kentucky (9-6-0/3-4-0 SEC), 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field.
Mississippi State garnered its first two goals on UK in the four game conference series. Entering today’s contest, the Wildcats held a 3-0 series lead on the Bulldogs and have outscored their SEC West rivals, 11-0.”This, like any game, was a fiercely competitive SEC match,” said Mississippi State head coach Neil McGuire. “Each team battled and fought for every loose ball and, as a result, it was an intense defensive struggle. All credit must go to Kentucky who is a very talented and very dangerous team. They played an excellent game.”
Senior forward Annie Gage scored the lone UK goal at the 22:34 mark of the first half. It was Gage’s second of the weekend, as she recorded the game winner to lift the Wildcats past Ole Miss, 2-1, on Friday. The goal was Gage’s 29th of her career, moving the Westerville, Ohio native into sole possession of second place on UK’s all-time goals scored list. Kim LaBelle owns the record with 44 goals scored from 1994-97.Gage stuck on a through ball from freshman forward Kathy Fulk that was redirected with a shot past MSU netminder Krystal Werges.
After a number of fouls highlighted the first 20 minutes of the second half, senior defender Aimee Brown took Moore down in the penalty box warranting a penalty kick by the Bulldogs. MSU sophomore midfielder Kristen Selman’s first career goal on the penalty kick lit the scoreboard at one apiece. Kentucky attempted a late rally, but was stifled by a suffocating State defense that sent the game into overtime.MSU earned its first shot of the overtime period from freshman forward Amy Van Zandt at the 90:45 mark that sailed left of the UK goal, before freshman midfielder April Berry found a streaking Moore 1:17 later. Moore found space to dribble and rocketed a shot past Wells who was charging on a goalkeeper challenge.
The loss to MSU marked the final regular season road game for the Wildcats. UK will return home to play host to Alabama on Friday, Oct. 26 and Auburn on Sunday, Oct. 28.
UK1001MSU 0112Goals: Gage, Annie, UK (Fulk, Kathy), 22:34, Selman, Kristen, MSU (Penalty kick), 64:49, Moore, Jessi, MSU (Berry, April), 92:02Shots: UK- 16, MSU- 6Saves: UK- 2, MSU- 9Corner Kicks: UK- 5, MSU- 4Fouls: UK- 22, MSU- 11Attendance: 531
– UK –
