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Down 3-0 to Arkansas State, Julie Mooney scored two goals, including one with under two minutes play, to bring the Murray State women's soccer team within one, but it was not enough as MSU dropped it season opener, 3-2, on Friday afternoon at Cutchin Field.

Despite an early barrage of shots by Murray State, it was the Red Wolves that were first on the board as Samhia Simao capitalized on a penalty kick in the 26^th minute to give her team an early 1-0 lead. In the 33^rd minute, Loren Mitchell intercepted a back pass, beat her defender and tapped the ball past MSU goalkeeper Savannah Haberman to give ASU a 2-0 lead at the break.

Early in the second half, Simao scored what would go on to be the game-winning goal when she converted on her second penalty kick of the afternoon to push the Red Wolves' lead to 3-0. Friday's penalty kicks put an end to a 24 match streak by the Racers of not giving up a penalty attempt.

However, in the 68^th minute Mooney, last season's leading scorer, picked up where she left off and netted a chip shot set up by Lyssie Wright to put MSU on the board at 3-1. With just 1:55 left in the game, Mooney gave MSU hope when she scored an unassisted goal to put her team within a goal. Mooney finished the day with 12 total shots, just three off her career high, with exactly half arriving on target. The two goals also ties a career high for the senior and will go down as the second brace of her career.

Despite a valiant effort in the last two minutes, the Racers were unable to come up with an equalizer and fell to Arkansas State for the third consecutive time. Despite coming up short on the score sheet, MSU enjoyed a 22-10 advantage in total shots in the match and a 10-7 edge in shots on goal.

In goal, Sara Wicks picked up the win for ASU as she made eight saves and allowed two goals over the full 90 minutes. Haberman also went the distance for MSU and made four saves with three goals allowed.

Murray State will now have a week off before returning to Cutchin Field next Friday to host Georgia State. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.