FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas (7-2-3) secured a crucial 4-2 victory over Mississippi State (9-2-1) in a high-scoring Southeastern Conference matchup on Sunday afternoon at Razorback Field. Kyndal Ewertz scored twice for the Razorbacks, including the decisive goal in the 82nd minute, as Arkansas extended their unbeaten streak to three matches.
Zoe Susi opened the scoring for Arkansas in the 33rd minute from the penalty spot after Hannah Jibril was shown a yellow card for a foul in the box. The teams traded goals before halftime, with Taylor Berman heading home a Presley Marvil cross in the 56th minute to give Arkansas a 2-1 advantage. Ewertz's first goal came in the 46th minute off an assist from Molly Teed, before completing her brace late in the second half.
The first half was marked by intense midfield battles, with Mississippi State's Adia Symmonds receiving an early yellow card in the 11th minute for unsporting behavior. The Bulldogs generated several quality chances, with Tatum Borman forcing a save from Arkansas goalkeeper Evelyn Vitali in the 14th minute. The Razorbacks controlled possession for long stretches, earning three corner kicks and testing Mississippi State keeper Sarah Wommack multiple times.
Arkansas came out firing in the second half, with Ewertz's goal just after the restart changing the complexion of the match. The Razorbacks made several tactical adjustments, bringing on fresh legs with Bella Field and Kennedy Ball providing new energy in the attacking third. Mississippi State responded with increased pressure, as Kyra Taylor and Zoe Main both forced saves from Vitali in the 85th minute, but couldn't find the equalizer.
The statistical battle reflected the match's competitive nature, with Mississippi State recording 22 shot attempts to Arkansas's 14. The Bulldogs managed nine shots on target compared to Arkansas's seven, while corner kicks were nearly even at 6-5 in favor of the visitors. The match saw four yellow cards issued, with three going to Mississippi State players.
Ewertz was the standout performer with her two-goal performance, while Vitali finished with seven crucial saves to preserve the victory. For Mississippi State, Taylor showed excellent creativity in midfield, generating multiple scoring opportunities, while Wommack made three important saves to keep the Bulldogs in contention throughout the match.
Arkansas head coach deployed an effective high-pressing system that disrupted Mississippi State's build-up play, particularly in the second half. The Razorbacks' tactical shift to a more direct attacking approach after halftime paid dividends, with Ewertz finding more space to operate between the Bulldogs' defensive lines. Mississippi State's attempts to counter through wide areas showed promise but ultimately couldn't produce enough clear-cut chances.
The victory maintains Arkansas's strong home form and moves them into a favorable position in the SEC standings. Mississippi State suffered their first conference defeat of the season, ending their impressive two-game winning streak that included victories over Missouri and Ole Miss.
Both teams face quick turnarounds with road matches on October 10th. Arkansas travels to face Georgia, while Mississippi State heads to Florida, with both teams looking to build on their strong overall records. The Razorbacks will aim to extend their unbeaten run, while the Bulldogs seek to bounce back from just their second loss of the campaign.