Lady Vols Erase Three-Goal Deficit, Draw With Mississippi State

Friday, September 29

Starkville, MS

8:30 PM

University of Tennessee

6-2-3, 1-1-2

Mississippi State

6-3-3, 1-2-1

Tennessee

Mississippi St.

Lady Vols Erase Three-Goal Deficit, Draw With Mississippi State

September 29, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Kimberly Hood

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Lady Vols scored three second-half goals to erase a three-point deficit, playing Mississippi State to a 3-3 draw on Friday.

Graduate Sizzy Lawton and junior Jordan Fusco found the net for the Lady Vols (6-2-3, 1-1-2 SEC). A third goal was the result of an MSU own goal off a UT corner kick. Redshirt-freshman Abby Reisz made the start in goal, earning three saves on the night. Redshirt-sophomore Ally Zazzara took over in the second half but did not record a save.

Hannah Johnson turned in a brace for the Bulldogs (6-3-3, 1-2-1 SEC), and Ally Perry rounded out the scoring. Maddy Anderson played the full game in goal for Mississippi State, making two saves.

Tennessee, who was playing without defensive starters Sheridan Michel, Lawson Renie and Ally Brown, struggled to find a rhythm offensively in the first half, with MSU leading the shot count 10-4 at halftime.

MSU's first goal came in the 29^th minute when Johnson slotted one into the bottom left of the goal off an assist from Zoe Main.

The Bulldogs struck again in the 43^rd minute when Perry capitalized on a miscue between Tennessee players to put a shot in from close range.

Lawton got a chance as the clock wound down, sending a screamer on frame, but Anderson collected the save to send the game into half with UT trailing, 2-0.

Johnson opened the scoring in the second half, sending a perfectly placed header into the side net off a serve from Macey Hodge in the 54^th minute.

Lawton put UT on the board in the 73^rd minute, getting loose in the left side of the box and sending a screamer into the net.

Fusco pulled UT within one five minutes later, running onto a blocked shot in the box to slide one through the Bulldog defense from 10 yards out.

Tennessee kept the pressure up in their offensive third, forcing a corner kick in the 87^th minute that graduate Samantha Agresti got a head on. An MSU defender failed to clear the ball over the crossbar, resulting in an own goal that tied the game at three-all.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols return home to host Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday.