Aug. 31, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior Annie Phillips put Kennesaw State ahead early, but Mississippi State answered with two goals of their own to down the Owls, 2-1, in the opening match of the 2007 Samford Barber's Invitational on Friday night.

The Owls (0-1) dominated play early in the match and found themselves with the majority of the chances in the first 20 minutes. Caitlin Dingle gave KSU its best chance to take an early lead in the 15th minute when she corralled a pass and fired towards the Bulldogs net, but unfortunately, came just inches short as her shot rattled off the post.

Kennesaw State struck gold just a few minutes later when, in the 22nd minute, Phillips scored her first goal of the season after gathering a pass from Dingle and rocketing a shot off the post. After following her own deflection, the Savannah, Georgia product quickly fired again from five yards out and put the ball past MSU's keeper, Taryn Holland, giving the Owls the early 1-0 lead.

But it was the Owls' goal that seemed to energize Mississippi State (1-0) as nearly ten minutes later the momentum shifted and Bulldogs responded to tie the match. Their leading goal scorer from a year ago, Treena Ferguson, finished a header off a corner kick from Caitlin Gallagher, putting it in the upper corner past Owls freshman keeper, Katie Piotrowski and drawing the teams even at 1-1.

KSU had plenty of chances to take the lead again in the second half, and none was more crucial than just 34 seconds into the second stanza. After Caitlin Dingle beat two defenders and was pulled down in the box, redshirt freshman Caroline Austin had the chance to play hero but her penalty kick was stopped by Holland as it flew towards the upper left corner.

The game winner came with just four minutes left to play when the Bulldogs once again had a corner kick that was sent into the six yard box. After Piotrowski made a save on MSU' Hadley Grable, a loose rebound was gathered by Katelyn Gtaben and put into the Owls net giving the Bulldogs the 2-1 lead.

Phillips tried to get the Owls back level in the 89th minute when her header was on target, but Holland came up with the save to preserve the win for Mississippi State.

KSU now drops to 4-2 in season openers with the other loss coming in the form of a 4-0 defeat to Clemson on August 29, 2005.

The Owls will return to action on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. CT when they take on the host Samford Bulldogs in the concluding match of the Barber's Invitational.