STARKVILLE, MS ? Despite driving rain and temperatures in the low 50s, the Kentucky women?s soccer team (8-6-3, 2-6-1) claimed a 3-2 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-10-1, 2-6-1).

The Wildcats notched two first half goals for the second straight match and dominated play offensively, outshooting the Bulldogs 18-10 and then fended off a mad MSU rally with two minutes left for the victory.

Sarah Gaunt got the Wildcats on the board in the 21st minute, marking the third straight match Kentucky has struck first. Megan Jones sent a long crossing pass in front of the Bulldog goal. Mississippi State goalie Taryn Holland went up for the ball but it squirted through her hands to Gaunt who put it in for her first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Kentucky extended its lead to 2-0 with 3:14 left in the first half when Tara Herold sent a free kick into the 18-yard box. Mississippi State?s Hannah Tyler went high for the header but deflected the ball into her own goal resulting in Kentucky?s two-goal lead.

Nicola Holdsworth gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead in the 80th minute when she got a solid head on a Tara Herold corner kick and put it in the back of the net for her third goal of the season.

The Bulldogs got on the board with 2:05 left in the match when Herold was whistled for a foul in the box resulting in a MSU penalty kick. Meredith Jacobson converted the kick cutting the Kentucky lead to 3-1.

Nearly two minutes later, Jacobson struck again this time pushing a header past UK goalie Sydney Hiance slicing the Wildcat lead to 3-2 with 27 seconds left.

The win pushed Kentucky?s record against Mississippi State to 7-2-0 and extended UK?s winning streak over the Bulldogs to three.

The Wildcats return to Lexington on Sunday when they host the Ole Miss Rebels on Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with Senior Day Festivities taking place prior to kickoff.