![Georgia midfielder Alex Pallo (23) during the Bulldogs' game at the Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, Ga., on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by Steffenie Burns / Georgia Sports Communication)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Soccer/2017/Matches/Mississippi-State/SB/i-xZpFg5q/0/9020e0e8/M/_MG_7954-M.jpg)
(Photo by Steffenie Burns / Georgia Sports Communication)
In a battle of the Bulldogs, the Georgia soccer team fell to Mississippi State 3-0 at the Turner Complex on Thursday night.
“Another challenging night in the SEC,” head coach Billy Lesesne said. “I think Mississippi State is a very physical team, and very competitive, and we weren’t able to possess the ball as we planned. We couldn’t capitalize on our corner kick opportunities. They scored a really nice second goal on the free kick. There were moments some players stepped forward, but not enough collectively on the night.”
Mississippi State (8-4-3, 2-4-2) struck first, securing a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute from a Brooke McKee shot off a MaKayla Waldner assist. In the 24th minute, Georgia redshirt senior Summer Burnett’s shot for the penalty kick was no good, but Katie Ralys was able to cross the ball back into the box for a header for Summer Burnett, though the shot went high. Georgia (4-11-1, 0-8) had four corner kick opportunities following the first goal, holding Mississippi State to two.
Sophomore Daria Stan had a shot in the 44th minute, but Mississippi State goalkeeper Catalina Perez saved the shot to send her team into halftime with the lead.
Georgia held off the Bulldogs from Starkville for the remaining minutes in the first half, but Mississippi State used the 56th and 57th minutes to seal a pair of goals for the 3-0 win. McKee notched her second goal of the night from a free kick, but the next Mississippi State goal was followed by a shot from MaKayla Waldner.
The Bulldogs from Athens hit the road for the final time this season as the team heads to Columbia to face the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday, October 22 at 6 p.m.
Georgia will conclude the regular season at home on Thursday, October 26 against Kentucky. Eleven seniors will be honored prior the game, which starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Fans now have the opportunity to enjoy Georgia soccer games with a UGA soccer seatback. The seatbacks are thick and comfortable and can be purchased at the Fan Info table located in the plaza of the Turner Soccer Complex for $5 per game. You can also save $15 by purchasing a soccer seatback for all nine home matches of the season for a total of $30.