Soccer Falls in SEC Road Opener at Mississippi State

Friday, October 5

Starkville, Miss.

7:00 p.m

Alabama

8-3-1, 1-1-1

Mississippi State

5-6-0, 1-2-0

Alabama

Mississippi State

Soccer Falls in SEC Road Opener at Mississippi State

10/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Soccer

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. ?? The University of Alabama fell in their Southeastern Conference road opener to Mississippi State 3-1 in Starkville Friday evening. Tonights loss broke Alabama's five game winning streak and was the first road loss of the season for the Crimson Tide.

"We were not in the game mentally and got completely outworked tonight," head coach Don Staley said. "We had too many missed assignments and Mississippi State was able to capitalize on our mistakes. My hats off to Mississippi State for coming into this game ready to play tonight."

The Tide (8-3-1, 1-1-1 SEC) had their chances early to crack the scoreboard. Off a corner kick play junior Danielle Bernier headed the ball into the far post in the 13th minute.

Freshman Grace Lawson had a one vs. one with the Mississippi State goalkeeper and fired on a shot on goal but Taryn Holland was able to tip the ball outside the post.

Freshman Brooke Rogers had a good look at the goal 42nd minute but was not able to get the ball past the Mississippi State keeper. The Tide and the Bulldogs took a scoreless game to the locker room at the half.

Mississippi State (5-6, 1-2 SEC) was able to score first in the 48th minute. Senior Trina Ferguson shot from 35 yards out just inside the top corner of the far post for her sixth goal of the year to give Mississippi State a 1-0 lead.

That goal was only the third goal the Tide has surrender in the last 537 minutes. For the Bulldogs it was the first goal they have scored in over 340 minutes.

Alabama tied the game in the 75th minute when Freshman Kelly King scored her second goal of the season. She was feed the ball from Alex Butera, who picked up her fifth assist on the season. King was able to sneak the ball just inside the near post to tie the game.

Mississippi State retook the lead with six minutes left in the game on Lauren Host goal. She fired from about ten yards out inside the top corner of the far post.

The Bulldogs scored their final goal inside the last minute on a confusing play at the goal line but Leanna Balder was credited with the goal. The ball sat on the goal line for what seemed like an eternity after Justine Bernier saved the initial shot before it eventually rolled across the goal line.

The Tide continues the Mississippi portion of their SEC schedule on Sunday afternoon in Oxford against Ole Miss.

"This is a very strong Ole Miss team that at the top of the SEC, we better come to play on Sunday," Staley said.

-UA-