Women’s Soccer Falls At Home To Mississippi State, 2-1 10/18/02

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Most of the time you can look at statistics from a game and probably figure out who won without seeing the score. If you looked at the statistics from the Vanderbilt women’s soccer game against Mississippi State on Friday night, you would probably assume the Commodores won. Well, despite being outshot 23-4, Mississippi State was able to escape with a 2-1 victory against the Commodores at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.

With the loss, the Commodores fall to 4-8 overall and 2-4 in the SEC, while the Bulldogs move to 5-9-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the SEC.

The story of the game, besides Vanderbilt’s domination from a shot standpoint, was the play of Mississippi State goalkeeper Krystal Werges, who finished with an incredible 13 saves on the night. Her 13 saves set a new season-best mark in the SEC. Werges also weathered a second-half barrage by the Vanderbilt offense, which put up 17 shots against the sophomore goalkeeper.

The Bulldogs jumped on the board first when midfielder Heather Ammann scored off a rebound following a long shot from midfielder Elke D’Hollander in the 18th minute. D’Hollander’s shot it the crossbar, which Ammann followed up with a shot and a goal. For Ammann, it was her fourth goal of the season.

Vanderbilt struck back in the in the 34th minute when midfielder Jennifer Lewis blasted a shot from around 20 yards out, which sailed over the outstretched arms of Werges. Lewis, who registered her second goal of the season, was assisted on the play by midfielder Katharine Carroll.

Less than seven minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs got the game-winning goal from midfielder Ngum Suh after she stole the ball from a Vanderbilt player and eventually beat out goalkeeper Esther Thompson on a one-on-one breakaway.

Carroll led Vanderbilt with eight shots, while Lewis chipped in with five. Thompson finished with only two saves, while allowing the two Mississippi State goals.

The Commodores return to action at 2:30 p.m. Sunday when they take on Mississippi at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. Besides the game being televised on Fox Sports Net, Vanderbilt will be honoring its five seniors (Katharine Carroll, Lauren Whitt, Marissa O’Leary, Kelly Kulsrud and Lizzy Johnson).

Scoring
MSU: Heather Ammann (Elke D’Hollander) - 17:55
VU: Jennifer Lewis (Katharine Carroll) - 33:26
MSU: Ngum Suh (Unassisted) - 51:27