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OXFORD, Miss. - The Mississippi State soccer team closed its 2009 season with a hard-fought 2-0 setback to 23rd-ranked Ole Miss on a cold, rainy Friday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford. Heavy rains that blanketed Oxford on Friday forced the match to be moved to the Rebels' football stadium.

State claimed its first winning season since 2003 as it finished the year with a 9-8-2 overall record and 1-8-2 SEC mark. Ole Miss improved to 12-4-2 overall, 6-2-2 in the conference.

Both teams exchanged possession the first eight minutes of the match while trying to adjust to playing on the artificial surface. The Rebels netted the game-winner with 37:43 left in the opening half as Hannah Weatherly turned, dribbled along the 18-yard line and fired a ball into the lower left portion of the net.

The Rebels out-shot Mississippi State 10-2 in the opening half, but both of State's attempts came inside the frame while UM put just three of their shots on goal.

Mississippi State came out more aggressive on the attack in the final 45 minutes, claiming six shots.

"I'm proud of the way we fought, especially in the second half," Mississippi State head coach Neil Macdonald said. "It was a very competitive game, but Ole Miss showed why they are ranked 23rd in the nation. They are a very good team."

The Bulldogs just missed a scoring chance three minutes into the second half. State centered the ball to freshman Rachel Wannek, and she found junior Danielle Kite on a run toward the goal. Kite, however, had her scoring attempt blocked by UM goalkeeper Alley Ronaldi.

Ronaldi finished the match with three saves while Bulldog senior Taryn Holland turned back four shots. Holland finished her Mississippi State career with 368 saves, five shy of the SEC career record.

With 38 minutes left, Kite narrowly missed another scoring effort.

Ronaldi came out of the box in an attempt to corral a loose ball, but the Hornchurch, England, native beat her to the ball and chipped a shot that was deflected just right of the near post.

Ole Miss extended the lead to 2-0 with just over four minutes remaining. Danielle Johnson sent a pass into the box, and Dylan Jordan headed the ball into the lower right portion of the net.

The Bulldogs close out a 2009 season that opened with a school-record eight straight victories. The 8-0 start also ranks as the most consecutive wins in school history.

"The exciting thing is we only lose three seniors from this year's squad. Our freshman class has done an excellent job this season, and they are only going to get better," Macdonald said. "This year has been a pivotal one for us. We started to turn a corner, and I think you'll see us move forward as a program."

Mississippi State (9-8-2, 1-8-2 SEC) vs. Ole Miss (12-4-2, 6-2-2 SEC)
Date: Oct 30, 2009 Attendance: 233
Weather: 52 degrees, heavy rain

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Mississippi State... 0 0 - 0
Ole Miss............ 1 1 - 2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 7:18 UM Hannah Weatherly (9) (unassisted) - Dribbled by defender, shot far post from 18 yards
2. 85:23 UM Dylan Jordan (4) (Danielle Johnson) - Header from 10 yards off left side cross

Shots: Mississippi State 8, Ole Miss 19
Saves: Mississippi State 4 (Taryn Holland 4), Ole Miss 3 (Alley Ronaldi 3)