Mississippi State soccer visits Kentucky in SEC matchup

Mississippi State soccer will visit Kentucky on Sunday for an SEC matchup between the Bulldogs’ defense and one of the conference’s highest-scoring teams. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT on SEC Network+.

Mississippi State is allowing one goal per game in conference play and has held opponents to 6.6 shots per game, third-best in the SEC. The Bulldogs also held No. 9/6 Tennessee to one shot on goal in the program’s third top-10 shutout.

Kentucky has scored at least five goals in four matches this season but was shut out by South Carolina on Thursday. The Wildcats rank seventh nationally in scoring offense at 3.30 goals per game, 15th in goal differential at plus-19, sixth in total goals and 13th in points per game at 8.30.

Mississippi State is unbeaten through its first three conference matches, and the Bulldogs rank third in the SEC in conference goals despite a scoreless draw in their most recent match. Laila Murillo leads the team with five goals, including two multi-goal matches, and averages 4.00 shots per SEC game, third in the league.

Kentucky’s Kyla Dawn has nine goals, seventh nationally, and ranks second in the NCAA with a .750 shots-on-goal percentage. Mississippi State has won four straight against Kentucky and has not lost in Lexington since 2014.

Mississippi State will open October with a three-match homestand, beginning with a match against No. 17/21 South Carolina on Friday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. CT. ESPNU will televise the match nationally.

Source: Mississippi State Athletics.