The Bulldogs will host nine home matches in 2018.
Anagnost Announces 2018 Soccer Schedule
July 27, 2018 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Looking to take the next step after its best season in 16 years, second-year head coach Tom Anagnost is excited to announce a 2018 schedule that includes nine home dates.
In total, the Bulldogs will face 17 regular-season foes, with the aforementioned nine at home and eight on the road. MSU will play a pair of away exhibition contests before kicking off the season, as the Bulldogs travel north to face Wisconsin at 7 p.m. CT on Aug. 9 before taking on Marquette at 8 p.m. on Aug. 11.
Out of MSU's 19 contests (including exhibitions), 17 opponents finished 2017 with a winning mark.
The 2018 slate begins with a renewal of State's in-state rivalry with Southern Miss at 7 p.m. on Aug. 16. In last season's lid-lifter, the Bulldogs downed Stephen F. Austin in front of a school-record crowd of 1,349.
After taking on the Golden Eagles, MSU will make a return trip to SFA on Aug. 19 before traveling to both Memphis (Aug. 23) and South Alabama (Aug. 26).
The Maroon and White will return to the friendly confines of the MSU Soccer Field at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 to close out the first month of play against Central Arkansas before opening September with a 1 p.m. match against Austin Peay on Sept. 2.
A pair of Bulldogs will then square off a week later, with Louisiana Tech making the trip to Starkville. MSU won last season's meeting in Ruston, 1-0, on a late penalty-kick strike.
The always-challenging Southeastern Conference slate begins Sept. 14, with MSU traveling to face Auburn in a 6:30 p.m. contest. State's SEC home opener will be a big one, as the Bulldogs host reigning league champion South Carolina on Sept. 20. State will then hit the road once more, traveling to Knoxville, Tenn., to face Tennessee on Sept. 23.
Another high-caliber test comes to Starkville on Friday, Sept. 28, as the Bulldogs host 2017 NCAA quarterfinalists Florida at 7 p.m., just a day before MSU's football team hosts the Gators for its SEC home opener.
MSU returns to the Volunteer State on Oct. 4, to take on Vanderbilt in Nashville before returning home to face Alabama the following Sunday. On Oct. 12, MSU will face Texas A&M in a key road contest before hosting Arkansas on Oct. 18. To round out the regular season, State will battle arch rival Ole Miss on Oct. 21 in the annual Magnolia Cup match in Oxford and close the regular season hosting LSU on Oct. 25.
The SEC Tournament begins Monday, Oct. 29 in Orange Beach, Ala., and play continues through Sunday, Nov. 4. First-round action in the NCAA Tournament will start on Friday, Nov. 9 at various host sites around the nation. This year's NCAA Women's College Cup will be in Cary, N.C., with the semifinals on Nov. 30 and the championship match on Dec. 2.
2018 Schedule By The Numbers
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."
In total, the Bulldogs will face 17 regular-season foes, with the aforementioned nine at home and eight on the road. MSU will play a pair of away exhibition contests before kicking off the season, as the Bulldogs travel north to face Wisconsin at 7 p.m. CT on Aug. 9 before taking on Marquette at 8 p.m. on Aug. 11.
Out of MSU's 19 contests (including exhibitions), 17 opponents finished 2017 with a winning mark.
The 2018 slate begins with a renewal of State's in-state rivalry with Southern Miss at 7 p.m. on Aug. 16. In last season's lid-lifter, the Bulldogs downed Stephen F. Austin in front of a school-record crowd of 1,349.
After taking on the Golden Eagles, MSU will make a return trip to SFA on Aug. 19 before traveling to both Memphis (Aug. 23) and South Alabama (Aug. 26).
The Maroon and White will return to the friendly confines of the MSU Soccer Field at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 to close out the first month of play against Central Arkansas before opening September with a 1 p.m. match against Austin Peay on Sept. 2.
A pair of Bulldogs will then square off a week later, with Louisiana Tech making the trip to Starkville. MSU won last season's meeting in Ruston, 1-0, on a late penalty-kick strike.
The always-challenging Southeastern Conference slate begins Sept. 14, with MSU traveling to face Auburn in a 6:30 p.m. contest. State's SEC home opener will be a big one, as the Bulldogs host reigning league champion South Carolina on Sept. 20. State will then hit the road once more, traveling to Knoxville, Tenn., to face Tennessee on Sept. 23.
Another high-caliber test comes to Starkville on Friday, Sept. 28, as the Bulldogs host 2017 NCAA quarterfinalists Florida at 7 p.m., just a day before MSU's football team hosts the Gators for its SEC home opener.
MSU returns to the Volunteer State on Oct. 4, to take on Vanderbilt in Nashville before returning home to face Alabama the following Sunday. On Oct. 12, MSU will face Texas A&M in a key road contest before hosting Arkansas on Oct. 18. To round out the regular season, State will battle arch rival Ole Miss on Oct. 21 in the annual Magnolia Cup match in Oxford and close the regular season hosting LSU on Oct. 25.
The SEC Tournament begins Monday, Oct. 29 in Orange Beach, Ala., and play continues through Sunday, Nov. 4. First-round action in the NCAA Tournament will start on Friday, Nov. 9 at various host sites around the nation. This year's NCAA Women's College Cup will be in Cary, N.C., with the semifinals on Nov. 30 and the championship match on Dec. 2.
2018 Schedule By The Numbers
- 17 – Total regular season games (9 home, 8 away)
- 17 – 2018 opponents with winning records in 2017, including exhibitions (Wisconsin [Exh.], Marquette [Exh.], Stephen F. Austin, Memphis, South Alabama, Central Arkansas, Austin Peay, Louisiana Tech, Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU)
- 12 – Opponents finishing the 2017 season with an RPI in the top-50
- 11 – 2017 NCAA Tournament participants (Wisconsin, South Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Ole Miss)
- 2 – Exhibitions, both on the road
- The non-conference slate features seven opponents from five different leagues:
- American (1): Memphis
- Conference USA (2): Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss
- Ohio Valley (1): Austin Peay
- Southland (1): Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin
- Sun Belt (1): South Alabama
- Austin Peay will be the lone first-time opponent in the regular season.
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."
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