Racers Fall to Rebels in Scoring Frenzy at Cutchin Field

Sunday, September 8

Cutchin Field

2 P.M.

Murray State

2-3-0, 0-0-0

Ole Miss

4-1-0, 0-0-0

Ole Miss

Murray St.

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Racers Fall to Rebels in Scoring Frenzy at Cutchin Field

9/8/2019 7:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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Murray State women's soccer returned home after a two-game road trip to host Ole Miss at Cutchin Field. Despite a flurry of goals, the Racers came up just short – falling to the Rebels 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.

The Racers jumped out to an early lead when Senior Emma Heise finished a cross from Miyah Watford in the third minute of the game.

Murray State then doubled their lead in the 18^th minute when Watford added a goal of her own when she tucked a ball into the lower corner to beat the Rebel goalkeeper – extending the margin to 2-0 in favor of the Racers.

Ole Miss would answer quickly, however, netting their first goal of the match less than minute later to cut the Racer lead in half when Murray, Kentucky native Channing Foster converted a penalty kick for the Rebels to make it 2-1.

The game would then become even for the first time since the opening moments of the afternoon in the 29^th minute, when Madisyn Pezzino brought the match level for Ole Miss.

As was the trend on the day, the score line would not stay unchanged for long as the duo of Watford and Heise connected for a goal once more – this time with Watford on the scoring end as her second goal of the day gave the Racers a 3-2 advantage.

As the scoring frenzy continued, an Ole Miss goal from Julia Phillips erased the Racer lead once again as the third goal in just three minutes between the two sides knotted the match at 3-3 as the game entered halftime.

While the score was even, the possession stats would also point towards a balanced first half between the two sides as both enjoyed 50% of the ball through the first 45 minutes of action. In addition to the six goals, teams combined for 19 shots in an action-packed first half.

While the game seemed to have a slower pace in the early moments after halftime, it quickly picked up again after the Racers regained the lead when they converted a penalty kick as Watford was fouled inside the Rebel penalty area. It would be Abby Jones who put away the penalty kick, giving Murray State a 4-3 lead on her second goal of the season with just over a half hour left to play.

Answering just minutes later for the Rebels would be Julia Phillips, as her second goal of the day tied the score for the third time since the opening kickoff as the score line showed 4-4.

The ninth and final goal of the day would belong to Ole Miss, after Haleigh Stackpole converted another penalty kick for the Rebels to give her side their first lead of the match nearly 63 minutes into the game.

Ironically, the high-scoring affair would be scoreless in the last 27 minutes as the Racers fell to the Rebels by a score of 5-4.

"There's a lot of positives to take. We scored four goals, but on the flip side, we conceded five - so we need to figure some things out in the back. We need to start seeing these games out, but there's definitely some positives there," said MSU head coach Matt Lodge.

Miyah Watford's second brace of the season brings her goal total to six on the year to lead the Racers, while Jones brings her point total to five (two goals, one assist) in 2019 after converting the penalty kick. The third-minute strike and assist later in the match from Emma Heise would be her first points of the season.

"I know we're right there. To lose two of these games so closely is disappointing, but I know we're in a good spot. I believe in our squad, and we're going to be ready for next week," added Lodge.

The Racers return to action on Friday when they welcome Arkansas State to Cutchin Field. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 p.m.