KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The No. 19 Tennessee women’s soccer team scored in the 87th minute Sunday to edge Mississippi State 1-0 in a Southeastern Conference match at Regal Soccer Stadium.
After defending a free kick, the ball landed at the feet of Tennessee’s Wrenne French, who passed to Bunny Shaw. Shaw shot from alongside the penalty spot off the inside of the left post to score.
“(This one is) extremely difficult to swallow,” MSU coach Tom Anagnost said. “Everybody is disappointed to say the very least. We’ve got to learn from it and get better.”
MSU had two late chances to even the match. Forty-five seconds after the goal, freshman Niah Johnson had her shot in the box blocked. With seven seconds remaining, freshman Zakirah McGillivary had an opportunity inside the box, but the ball was saved to end the game.
MSU had opportunities in the first half. While shots were even through the first 45 minutes, the Bulldogs had four shots on target and kept the Volunteers off frame.
“I thought we played a great first half,” Anagnost said. “We were on the front foot, and I thought we were the better team. We had chances, and I know we’re good enough to put them in the net.”
Redshirt senior Rhylee
DeCrane (four saves) made her biggest save in the 74th minute, when she dove to her left to deny a penalty kick.
“She was fantastic,” Anagnost said. “She was the best player on our team today. They generated chances, and to be honest, they could’ve scored more than a goal. We have to expedite our learning curve, especially against a greatly talented team like this.”
MSU will play host to Florida at 7 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+) at the MSU Soccer Field.
n Ole Miss 3, No. 9 Auburn 2: At Auburn, Alabama, CeCe Kizer made history Sunday, scoring two goals to lead the Rebels (8-4, 2-1) past the Tigers (9-1-1, 1-1-1).
With the match tied 1-1 at halftime, Kizer scored less than a minute into the second half to give the Rebels a 2-1 advantage. The goal — the 45th of her career — broke a school record.
The lead didn’t last long. Julia Phillips was called for a foul in the box, resulting in a 51st-minute penalty. Bri Folds converted to tie it at 2.
Kizer scored the game-winner after receiving the ball behind the midfield stripe. She darted past multiple defenders before scoring her 13th game-winner in an Ole Miss kit. The goal helped her become the program’s all-time leading scorer with 110 points.
Channing Foster scored in the first half for Ole Miss. Jessie Gerow scored for Auburn.
The win is the first against a ranked opponent for Ole Miss since it defeated No. 23 Texas A&M in 2015 in College Station, Texas.
Ole Miss will play host to No. 2 Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium
n Arkansas 1, Alabama 0: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Kayla Mckeon scored her fifth goal of the season in the second half Sunday night to lift the Razorbacks (7-2, 2-1) past the Crimson Tide.
“One thing we can learn from tonight is we aren’t good enough to think our soccer can win out,” Alabama coach Wes Hart said. “Without the willingness to compete and fight, the soccer doesn’t matter. I think Arkansas showed us what it means to want to win. Whether winning or losing a game, we can’t dwell on it. I hope we can learn from tonight and focus on LSU.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Plavin denied Mckeon on a penalty kick in the first half.
Arkansas outshot Alabama 17-7, including a 5-2 edge in shots on goal.
Alabama will face LSU at 7 p.m. Thursday (SEC Network+) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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