Soccer Opens SEC Slate Against No. 25 Arkansas

Friday, September 9

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

#25 Arkansas

Bulldogs ready for physical matchup against 25th-ranked Razorbacks

Soccer Opens SEC Slate Against No. 25 Arkansas

September 08, 2016 | Soccer

Game Notes (MSU)Game Story (ARK)SEC Network + Live Stats

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Southeastern Conference play kicks off this Friday, as the Mississippi State soccer team (4-2-0) welcomes 25th-ranked Arkansas (5-1-0) to the MSU Soccer Field at 7 p.m. CT.

Friday's contest will be broadcast on SEC Network +, with Anthony Craven and Robbie Kroger on the call. Fans can access the broadcast by going to WatchESPN.com. Live stats of the matchup will be available through HailState.com.

"We're excited to return home this Friday and take on a good Arkansas club," head coach Aaron Gordon said. "Last weekend we had two great results and we're looking to continue that success this weekend. I know Arkansas will be coming in here ready to play and I'm excited for the opportunity our team will have. This is going to be a big weekend for us and I know our team can't wait to get out on the field."

Last Time Out:
The Bulldogs picked up two wins on the road last weekend, after defeating South Alabama in double overtime last Friday and shutting out Southern Miss to cap the weekend on Sunday. MSU's 2-1 win against South Alabama was a great result for the Bulldogs, given the Jaguars upset No. 1 Florida State on the same field a few days later. The overtime win was State's first on the road since 2004.

Scouting Arkansas:
The Razorbacks are coming off their first loss of the season after losing to George Washington on the road. The five-game win streak was the second-best start in school history for Arkansas, as the Razorbacks were one of the hottest teams in the SEC before last Sunday. In that win streak the Hogs upset No. 2 Duke at home, 2-1, leading to the squad cracking the top 25 for the first time in 2016 at No. 17.

Keys For MSU:
Coming into Friday's matchup, No. 25 Arkansas has scored 17 goals on the season. That total is only two behind SEC-leading Florida on the year. The backline of Kiley Martens, Courtney Robicheaux, Ari Holmes and Khalyn Harmon, along with SEC Defensive Player of the Week Tanya de Souza will be tasked with slowing down the vaunted Razorback attack, as MSU looks to keep its five-goals-allowed standing intact.

Up Next:
The Maroon and White hosts the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday at 1 p.m., with game serving as MSU's Senior Day. ULL is 3-3-0 prior to its Friday matchup against McNeese State at home.

Additional Notes:

Last season, the Bulldogs defeated Arkansas 2-1 in Fayetteville
The win in Fayetteville was MSU's first as a soccer program, as the club was 0-10 in Fayetteville before 2015's result
The victory also snapped a 23-game losing streak in conference for MSU and was head coach Aaron Gordon's first SEC win
SEC Defensive Player of the Week Tanya de Souza is the first MSU goalie to earn the defensive accolade since Skylar Rosson did it in 2011
De Souza's 5.60 saves per game leads the SEC, while her .848 save percentage is second in the league
As a team the Bulldogs lead the SEC with 35 saves
MSU and Arkansas are tied for the most fouls in the SEC at 62 apiece

How to Watch Friday's Game:
The contest will be available on SEC Network + via WatchESPN.

Live Stats:
Live stats for the SEC opener can be found here or by visiting HailState.com.

Admission:
Admission for Friday's game, as with all Bulldog home games, is free.

Promotions:
All students who attend Friday's game against Arkansas will be awarded 150 "Hail State Rewards" points. At halftime the 2001 SEC Western Division Championship team will be recognized as 2016 marks the 15th anniversary since the team won the West. Fans are encouraged to bring their cowbells and ring them throughout the game; one lucky fan will win $100 for bringing their cowbell.

Social Media:
For more information on the Mississippi State soccer program, follow "HailStateSOC" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.