The Bulldogs played the toughest schedule in the country this year and claimed two RPI Top 20 wins.
Reviewing the Bulldogs’ NCAA Tournament Resume
November 02, 2018 | Soccer
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's soccer team is hoping to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. With the NCAA Selection Show scheduled for Monday afternoon, it's time to take a look back at what the Bulldogs accomplished in the regular season.
MSU currently sits at No. 19 in the NCAA's RPI after reaching its highest ranking in program history this year when the team debuted at No. 2. According to AllWhiteKit.com's RPI calculations, which are updated daily, the Bulldogs are No. 18.
The Schedule
Head coach Tom Anagnost knew he had charted a tough path for his team this year, but State's strength of schedule has been a huge boost to the Bulldogs RPI and helped build their case for the national tournament.
MSU played the toughest schedule in the country this year according to NCAA Statistics with an opponents' win percentage of .676. The Bulldogs faced a conference slate with an average opponents' RPI of 28.9, the highest in the SEC. State's opponents' strength of schedule rated fifth in the country.
Meanwhile, the SEC boasts the highest average RPI of any conference (48.9) along with six teams in the top 25.
The Wins
The Bulldogs claimed two signature wins over RPI Top 20 teams this year. In August, State traveled to Memphis (RPI No. 16/17), and handed the Tigers a 5-2 loss. State scored four second-half goals, and that scoring output was tied with its game against Alabama (RPI No. 57/63) for the highest goal total of the year. State's five goals against the Tide were the most the team has scored in conference play in program history.
In their second match of conference play, the Bulldogs took down South Carolina (RPI No. 18/15), a Final Four team a year ago, after only allowing one goal on a penalty kick. Freshman Zakirah McGillivary scored in the 93rd minute to give MSU a 2-1 win over the then-No. 13/6 Gamecocks in front of a school-record crowd.
State also claimed an early non-conference win over Central Arkansas (RPI No. 56/57). The Bulldogs were one of just three teams to beat the Bears, who won the Southland Conference regular season title and will play in the league's tournament semifinals on Friday.
The Ties
The Bulldogs proved they could play with the best members of their conference on multiple occasions. MSU played both Florida (RPI No. 62/47) and Arkansas (RPI No. 26/26) to scoreless ties. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators on Friday to advance to the SEC Championship game.
The Losses
MSU was impressive even in how it lost games. The average RPI of all teams the Bulldogs lost to this season is 20. State did not lose a non-conference game, and four of its losses came by just one goal. The Bulldogs' worst loss was at Ole Miss (RPI No. 37/43).
The Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaker on the road at then-No. 19/14 Tennessee (RPI No. 8/8) after conceding the lone goal of the match with just 3:30 to play. In one of the toughest atmospheres in college soccer, the Bulldogs lost, 2-1, at then-No. 5/4 Texas A&M (RPI No. 9/9). Despite falling behind by two goals with 14 minutes to play, the Bulldogs continued to fight, outshooting the Aggies, 17-11 in the second half.
State closed the year against Ole Miss (RPI No. 37/43) and LSU (RPI No. 33/27), playing some of its best soccer. The Bulldogs earned more corners (8-2) and took more shots (18-10) against the Rebels. MSU outshot the SEC finalist Tigers, 27-8.
Youth Movement
MSU entered the season with a roster that was tied for the most freshmen in the conference. The Bulldogs brought in 15 newcomers to pair with a dozen returners for the 2018 campaign. Of all the teams on State's schedule, only South Alabama returned fewer players (11).
However, the younger players made an impressive impact on the season. McGillivary led the Bulldogs with 17 points this year and earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors for her efforts. Newcomers accounted for 44.6 percent of MSU's scoring (41 of 92 points), which led all SEC programs.
Records Broken
McGillivary matched the Bulldogs' single-season record for game-winning goals with five this year, while her eight total goals are the second-most any freshman has recorded in Starkville.
With help from one of the best defenses in school history, redshirt senior Rhylee DeCrane broke the school's single-season shutout record (8). State allowed 16 goals (0.92 goals against average), and the defense held opponents to just 11.6 shots per game, which is the lowest mark in program history for both categories.
The NCAA Selection Committee will announce the bracket for the 2018 NCAA Tournament at 3:30 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 5. The Bulldogs are hoping to be one of 32 sites hosting a first-round match on Nov. 9-11.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's soccer team is hoping to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. With the NCAA Selection Show scheduled for Monday afternoon, it's time to take a look back at what the Bulldogs accomplished in the regular season.
MSU currently sits at No. 19 in the NCAA's RPI after reaching its highest ranking in program history this year when the team debuted at No. 2. According to AllWhiteKit.com's RPI calculations, which are updated daily, the Bulldogs are No. 18.
The Schedule
Head coach Tom Anagnost knew he had charted a tough path for his team this year, but State's strength of schedule has been a huge boost to the Bulldogs RPI and helped build their case for the national tournament.
MSU played the toughest schedule in the country this year according to NCAA Statistics with an opponents' win percentage of .676. The Bulldogs faced a conference slate with an average opponents' RPI of 28.9, the highest in the SEC. State's opponents' strength of schedule rated fifth in the country.
Meanwhile, the SEC boasts the highest average RPI of any conference (48.9) along with six teams in the top 25.
The Wins
The Bulldogs claimed two signature wins over RPI Top 20 teams this year. In August, State traveled to Memphis (RPI No. 16/17), and handed the Tigers a 5-2 loss. State scored four second-half goals, and that scoring output was tied with its game against Alabama (RPI No. 57/63) for the highest goal total of the year. State's five goals against the Tide were the most the team has scored in conference play in program history.
In their second match of conference play, the Bulldogs took down South Carolina (RPI No. 18/15), a Final Four team a year ago, after only allowing one goal on a penalty kick. Freshman Zakirah McGillivary scored in the 93rd minute to give MSU a 2-1 win over the then-No. 13/6 Gamecocks in front of a school-record crowd.
State also claimed an early non-conference win over Central Arkansas (RPI No. 56/57). The Bulldogs were one of just three teams to beat the Bears, who won the Southland Conference regular season title and will play in the league's tournament semifinals on Friday.
The Ties
The Bulldogs proved they could play with the best members of their conference on multiple occasions. MSU played both Florida (RPI No. 62/47) and Arkansas (RPI No. 26/26) to scoreless ties. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators on Friday to advance to the SEC Championship game.
The Losses
MSU was impressive even in how it lost games. The average RPI of all teams the Bulldogs lost to this season is 20. State did not lose a non-conference game, and four of its losses came by just one goal. The Bulldogs' worst loss was at Ole Miss (RPI No. 37/43).
The Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaker on the road at then-No. 19/14 Tennessee (RPI No. 8/8) after conceding the lone goal of the match with just 3:30 to play. In one of the toughest atmospheres in college soccer, the Bulldogs lost, 2-1, at then-No. 5/4 Texas A&M (RPI No. 9/9). Despite falling behind by two goals with 14 minutes to play, the Bulldogs continued to fight, outshooting the Aggies, 17-11 in the second half.
State closed the year against Ole Miss (RPI No. 37/43) and LSU (RPI No. 33/27), playing some of its best soccer. The Bulldogs earned more corners (8-2) and took more shots (18-10) against the Rebels. MSU outshot the SEC finalist Tigers, 27-8.
Youth Movement
MSU entered the season with a roster that was tied for the most freshmen in the conference. The Bulldogs brought in 15 newcomers to pair with a dozen returners for the 2018 campaign. Of all the teams on State's schedule, only South Alabama returned fewer players (11).
However, the younger players made an impressive impact on the season. McGillivary led the Bulldogs with 17 points this year and earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors for her efforts. Newcomers accounted for 44.6 percent of MSU's scoring (41 of 92 points), which led all SEC programs.
Records Broken
McGillivary matched the Bulldogs' single-season record for game-winning goals with five this year, while her eight total goals are the second-most any freshman has recorded in Starkville.
With help from one of the best defenses in school history, redshirt senior Rhylee DeCrane broke the school's single-season shutout record (8). State allowed 16 goals (0.92 goals against average), and the defense held opponents to just 11.6 shots per game, which is the lowest mark in program history for both categories.
The NCAA Selection Committee will announce the bracket for the 2018 NCAA Tournament at 3:30 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 5. The Bulldogs are hoping to be one of 32 sites hosting a first-round match on Nov. 9-11.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Players Mentioned
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