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KENNESAW, Ga. – Despite a rowdy, enthusiastic crowd of 1,883 fans, the Kennesaw State soccer team dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss on Friday night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
 
While the Rebels (5-1-1) controlled much of the possession in the first half, KSU (2-4-0) earned a pair of scoring opportunities as shots from junior midfielder Nicole Calder and redshirt-junior defender Alma Gardarsdottir ricocheted off the cross bar. The match entered halftime at scoreless stalemate.
 
Kennesaw State, looking to improve upon its first half play, came out ready to pounce on the Rebels in the second half. The Owls would do just that in the 57th minute as freshman forward Shannon Driscoll was taken down inside the 18-yard box to earn KSU's first penalty kick of the season. Freshman midfielder Suzanne Arafa was calm and collected in putting away the penalty and scoring her first career goal in a Kennesaw State jersey.
 
The KSU lead did not last long when a minute later Olivia Harrison evened the match at 1-1. Harrison dribbled through the Owl defense inside the box, before slotting the ball into the right bottom corner of the goal.
 
The Rebels then scored the go-ahead goal in the 70th minute on a controversial call during an Ole Miss free kick in the KSU 18-yard box that resulted in a penalty kick for the Rebels. Mandy McCalla buried the ball into the right side to give Ole Miss the 2-1 win.
 
Ole Miss appeared to extend its lead to 3-1 in the 86th minute on a Rafaella Souza corner kick that bent into the goal on the far side, but the goal was waived off after it was ruled that Ole Miss had 12 players on the field following a substitution prior to the corner kick.
 
KSU totaled eight shots in the match with five on goal, while the Rebels notched 12 shots with eight on frame. Arafa and Calder each tallied a pair of shots to lead the Owls, with Arafa's shot both on goal. McCalla registered four shots, with three on frame for Ole Miss.
 
Kennesaw State earned four corners in the match, while the Rebels earned nine. Both teams combined to total 25 fouls in the contest.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Olivia Sturdivant totaled six saves, while Kelly McCormick notched four saves for the Rebels.
 
The Owls continue their five-match home stand with a rare midweek match on Tuesday, Sept. 17, against Samford at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET).
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State soccer news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 
Fans are reminded that admission to all 2013 home soccer contests is free throughout the year.
 
 

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