No. 10 Tennessee Beats Mississippi State, 2-1
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tenth-ranked Tennessee picked up its sixth straight SEC win on Friday, taking a 2-1 victory over Mississippi State in front of a season-high crowd of 2,379 in Regal Soccer Stadium.
The win marks UT's longest win streak in conference play since logging six straight in 2007. The team is now two shy of the program's best SEC streak of eight wins set in 2004.
Freshman
Claire Rain and junior
Claudia Dipasupil found the net for Tennessee (13-1-0, 6-1-0 SEC). In goal, junior
Lindsey Romig made four saves on the day.
Madison Cotta was the goal scorer for Mississippi State (3-7-3, 1-5-1 SEC).
"It's just a massive three points. I say it all the time, but any points in this league are really difficult to get," said Tennessee head coach
Brian Pensky. "(Mississippi State) is a lot better than their record. There's a reason all their losses are by one goal. They were athletic, combative, organized, and they caused us all kinds of problems, so we just feel fortunate to get a win tonight and are looking forward to next week (at Vanderbilt)."
Rain struck early for Tennessee, one-touching a ball into the corner of the net off a deflection on a free kick from just outside the box in the fifth minute.
The Bulldogs got a quality look in the 27th minute when Alyssa D'Aloise ripped off a shot from the top of the box, but Romig made the save, and the score remained 1-0 through the end of the half.
The Vols started the second period in similar fashion as the first, scoring less than two minutes in off a 20-yard shot by Dipasupil. Freshman
Jordan Fusco earned the assist on the goal.
Senior
Mackenzie George got a good shot on frame in the 72nd minute, but Maddy Anderson was there for the save.
Junior
Tara Katz saved a would-be Bulldog goal in the 88th minute, sliding to knock away a ball rolling toward the net off a 50-50 ball at the top of the eighteen, allowing Tennessee to close out the game and take the win.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will hit the road, traveling to Vanderbilt for an 8 p.m. ET matchup on Thursday.
FAB FRESHMEN: With Rain's goal and Fusco's assist against Mississippi State, freshmen now account for 13 of UT's 38 goals this season and have tallied 12 assists.
DIPASUPIL ON A ROLL:
Claudia Dipasupil recorded her seventh goal of the season against Mississippi State, tying
Taylor Hufffor the team lead. She has recorded a goal or an assist in four straight games and leads the team in total points with 20.