STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 1 Tennessee soccer team dropped its SEC opener, 3-2 at Mississippi State Friday night.
Despite the result, sophomore forward Anaiyah Robinson registered a brace for the Lady Vols (6-1-1) after making her first start of the season. Robinson also took six shots as Jenna Stayart logged five.
Ally Perry turned in a brace for State (6-1-0) and secured the game-winner for the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State struck first in the 11th minute after Perry and Adia Simmons found Zoe Main to put the Bulldogs up early.
The rest of the opening frame didn’t see another score as State entered the break with the 1-0 advantage.
Roughly eight minutes into the second half, Robinson put two quick ones on the board for the Big Orange to take the lead.
Robinson’s first score came in the 53rd minute after Stayart found her in the box. She quickly scored UT’s second and final goal of the night just two minutes later after Luciana Latino served it to Keaton Mitchell who headed it to Robinson.
Roughly 19 minutes later, Perry leveled the match for State with a left-footed kick in the top of the goal.
Perry then secured the match for the Bulldogs with an 89th minute score.
Tennessee concluded the game with 14 shots as State logged 11.
UP NEXT: UT will head to Missouri for its second SEC contest. The match will take place at 7 p.m. ET. Thursday.
