State Shut Out By Sooners, Faces Auburn Sunday

Thursday, October 15

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

8-2-4, 2-1-4

Oklahoma

10-3-2, 4-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Oklahoma	1	1	2
Mississippi St.	0	0	0

Box Score (PDF)Press Conference

STARKVILLE, MS - October 15, 2026 - Jenny Harrison during the match between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at the MSU Soccer Field in Starkville, MS. Photo By Mike Mattina

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

State Shut Out By Sooners, Faces Auburn Sunday

October 15, 2026 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Press Conference Photo Gallery

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State dropped its first SEC match of the season on Thursday night, being shut out by Oklahoma, 2-0.

Despite not finding the back of the net, the Bulldogs (8-2-4, 2-1-4 SEC) outshot the Sooners, 13-10, and put six shots on target. There were multiple goal line saves by defenders from both teams in the match. In fact, the first goal of the night appeared that it may have been saved off the line by State's Reganne Morris, but the call of goal was upheld upon review.

"I thought the second goal was fantastic by Oklahoma. The turn, the finish were very, very good," head coach Kevin O'Brien said. "What was disappointing was the first one. We played so well. It was a competitive first half. Both teams were playing their style well. It was a good performance by us, and to concede there with six minutes to play, I think took a little bit of wind out of our sails. I thought we regrouped at halftime, but then when we came out again we were second to too many balls in the second half. I thought they imposed their style on us, a little bit more than we did on them and that was ultimately the difference for the result tonight."

Oklahoma (10-3-2, 4-3-0 SEC) struck first in the 39th minute when Elle Canty's shot was deflected by traffic in front of the net and skipped over Bulldog keeper Jenny Harrison.

Eden Nicholson made her second defensive save of the year just 10 seconds into the second half to preserve a one-goal deficit. Later in the half, the Bulldogs saw their best chance of the night on a free kick in the 57th minute. Kyli Switalski's service found the head of Laila Murillo. That shot was saved by the keeper, but Chiara Tappe put the rebound back on frame where it was cleared off the line by a defender.

In the 69th minute, the nation's leading scorer, Kayla Keefer tallied her 16th goal of the year after turning off her defender while receiving a throw-in.

Lucy Crook made her SEC debut, and the Bulldogs rotated five players off the bench while playing without starting center back Ashley Tutas, who was serving a red card suspension.

State is back in action on Sunday at No. 21/24 Auburn. Kickoff on the Plains is set for 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."