Final Stats

LA Tech vs. MSU box score

LA Tech season stats

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Louisiana Tech stood toe-to-toe with SEC foe Mississippi State but was unable to finish on multiple scoring opportunities as they dropped their first loss of the season, a 2-1 decision on Sunday afternoon at the MSU Soccer Field.

LA Tech (6-1-1) controlled the match in the midfield for most of the game, but consistency in play in the final third proved too costly.

"That was a tough one to take," said head coach Kevin Sherry. "You can dominate as much of the game as you want, but it always comes down to quality of finishing and we lacked that today. [Mississippi State] had one look at goal in the first half and they finished with a quality shot. We had four or five easier chances but lacked that same quality in front of goal.

"The game was there for the taking and the ladies gave everything, but a lack of consistency and quality in the attacking third was our undoing."

It was only six minutes into the match when Mississippi State (3-4) got that one good look at goal, and Shannen Jainudeen made it count after she took a touch in an open gap and beat the diving Kylee Seto inside the right post.

Annie Armstrong had a great chance at the equalizer in the 20th minute, but her shot from 12 yards out hit off the side of her foot and trickled wide left.

Seven minutes later the Lady Techsters had a flurry of opportunities with MSU's keeper coming up with the kick save on Armstrong's attempt and then Kathryn Sloan put one off the crossbar off the rebound.

However, three minutes deep into the second half Sloan came up with the equalizer when she received a through ball from Brittany Beddow and had a breakaway down the right flank and boomed it from 25 yards out past to the top shelf.

The match did not remain tied for long as the Bulldogs retook the lead in the 57th minute after a miskick by Seto and then a questionable foul called on Charity Simmons in the corner gave the home team a free kick.

MSU's Mallory Eubanks chipped the ball into the box and a soft header by Morgan Ferrara snuck past the goal line before it could be cleared by the Techsters.

LA Tech had chances to bring it level towards the end, two of which came by Taylor Dennis in the final five minutes but one attempt sailed high and the other was blocked by a Bulldog defender.

LA Tech returns home to finish out non-conference next weekend. They take on Grambling State on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. and then Jackson State on Sunday at 1 p.m at the Lady Techster Soccer Complex.

For complete coverage of LA Tech Soccer, please follow @LATechSOC on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at www.LATechSports.com.