Head coach Tom Anagnost and three student-athletes addressed the media on Tuesday.
Bulldog Soccer Holds Annual Preseason Media Day
August 14, 2018 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With their season set to begin on Thursday, the Mississippi State soccer team held its annual preseason media day in the Babe McCarthy Media Room at Humphrey Coliseum on Tuesday.
Second-year head coach Tom Anagnost was joined by senior Courtney Robicheaux and Carly Mauldin along with junior MaKayla Waldner.
The Bulldogs welcome the most freshmen of any SEC squad this season, but return their top three goal scorers and top two in points. Waldner led the team with nine goals on the way to an MSU single-season-record five game-winners.
When State hosts Southern Miss at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, Anagnost will be looking to be the fastest coach in school history to win 10 games. He will be coaching his 19th contest, while the current record stands at 20 games set by the first coach in program history, William B. Findley II.
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."
Tom Anagnost Quotes
Opening statement…
"We're inching closer to the first game of the season on Thursday, and we're all anxiously awaiting that moment."
On the difference he saw in the two exhibition games…
"It was almost drastic. (Makayla) Waldner hit it on the head. We didn't have an identity the first game, and there were technical things in both. We were just better, in all phases, in the second game. Between the matches, we focused on a few areas. We said we'd do better at things, and they did. It was clearly a better match for most of the individuals on the team, and I would say collectively. I was pleased. We need to build on that."
On leadership…
"The biggest thing will be the leadership piece. They all have an extensive amount of experience on the team and at the high level. That the biggest piece is connecting with all the players on the team. To me, the definition of a leader is to be an extension of the coaches. On and off the field, you're communicating both ways. We will create a high standard and enforce it. If they do those things, we have a chance of being good."
On Southern Miss…
"We played them our first spring, and we didn't generate very many chances. They had the better share of the game for 75 minutes. They're tactically very good from what I remember. They defend together, and they have some players that can score. They present a different type of challenge that we will need to overcome from a tactical and technical standpoint. It's going to be a tough game."
Carly Mauldin Quotes
On having interactions with players on Southern Miss's team since she's from the area…
"There are a few players on their team from my old club team that I use to play with. I am really excited to play them and show them how good we are."
On what she thinks MaKayla Waldner is going to bring to the team…
"You could say (Courtney) Robicheaux is the fastest in the backline, and I would say MaKayla is the fastest we have up top. She's going to work hard, she's going to give it her all every chance. She's going to score goals for us this season. I expect nothing less, and I think she's up for it. MaKayla is a hard worker."
Courtney Robicheaux Quotes
On what she thinks Carly Mauldin is going to bring to the team…
"We have played together since we were freshmen, and we have started since we were freshmen. I have 100 percent faith in her, and I trust her 100 percent on the field. I trust her as a leader, and also as the calming voice we need to hear when things get tough or when things are getting to frantic. Carly is always there to calm everything down. I don't think Carly has ever had a bad game, so I just know that every single game she's going to go out there and give her 100 percent effort. I believe in her every time we step on the field."
Makayla Waldner Quotes
On the difference in the team's mentality between their first and second exhibition matches…
"I think you could say the Wisconsin game was out of character for us. We just did not come out and play our game. It was really different. We could not find our flow or rhythm or anything like that. Whenever the Marquette game came, Tom (Anagnost) was like, I want you guys to go out there and show them that we are the tougher team. I think we did just that. In the first two minutes we already established that if we fall down, we are the first to get up or that we are going to win the ball from you."
On how much the team will rely on toughness with a young team…
"Any SEC school is real tough and gritty. I think we take pride in being the toughest one in our conference, and every team knows that. I think that just goes to show how hard we are going to work, and no matter how young we are, we are going to be able to pick up the slack in other areas. We are going to go out there and battle it out and try to be the tougher opponent every time."
On what she thinks Courtney Robicheaux is going to bring to the team…
"One thing about Courtney is that no matter – well we call her Robi – one thing about Robi is that no matter how our preparation goes, she is always going to go out there and give us her all. That is how she has always been, and I expect nothing less from her. She's the fastest one in our backline, and no one is going to get past Robi. I have 100 percent faith in her."
Second-year head coach Tom Anagnost was joined by senior Courtney Robicheaux and Carly Mauldin along with junior MaKayla Waldner.
The Bulldogs welcome the most freshmen of any SEC squad this season, but return their top three goal scorers and top two in points. Waldner led the team with nine goals on the way to an MSU single-season-record five game-winners.
When State hosts Southern Miss at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, Anagnost will be looking to be the fastest coach in school history to win 10 games. He will be coaching his 19th contest, while the current record stands at 20 games set by the first coach in program history, William B. Findley II.
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."
Tom Anagnost Quotes
Opening statement…
"We're inching closer to the first game of the season on Thursday, and we're all anxiously awaiting that moment."
On the difference he saw in the two exhibition games…
"It was almost drastic. (Makayla) Waldner hit it on the head. We didn't have an identity the first game, and there were technical things in both. We were just better, in all phases, in the second game. Between the matches, we focused on a few areas. We said we'd do better at things, and they did. It was clearly a better match for most of the individuals on the team, and I would say collectively. I was pleased. We need to build on that."
On leadership…
"The biggest thing will be the leadership piece. They all have an extensive amount of experience on the team and at the high level. That the biggest piece is connecting with all the players on the team. To me, the definition of a leader is to be an extension of the coaches. On and off the field, you're communicating both ways. We will create a high standard and enforce it. If they do those things, we have a chance of being good."
On Southern Miss…
"We played them our first spring, and we didn't generate very many chances. They had the better share of the game for 75 minutes. They're tactically very good from what I remember. They defend together, and they have some players that can score. They present a different type of challenge that we will need to overcome from a tactical and technical standpoint. It's going to be a tough game."
Carly Mauldin Quotes
On having interactions with players on Southern Miss's team since she's from the area…
"There are a few players on their team from my old club team that I use to play with. I am really excited to play them and show them how good we are."
On what she thinks MaKayla Waldner is going to bring to the team…
"You could say (Courtney) Robicheaux is the fastest in the backline, and I would say MaKayla is the fastest we have up top. She's going to work hard, she's going to give it her all every chance. She's going to score goals for us this season. I expect nothing less, and I think she's up for it. MaKayla is a hard worker."
Courtney Robicheaux Quotes
On what she thinks Carly Mauldin is going to bring to the team…
"We have played together since we were freshmen, and we have started since we were freshmen. I have 100 percent faith in her, and I trust her 100 percent on the field. I trust her as a leader, and also as the calming voice we need to hear when things get tough or when things are getting to frantic. Carly is always there to calm everything down. I don't think Carly has ever had a bad game, so I just know that every single game she's going to go out there and give her 100 percent effort. I believe in her every time we step on the field."
Makayla Waldner Quotes
On the difference in the team's mentality between their first and second exhibition matches…
"I think you could say the Wisconsin game was out of character for us. We just did not come out and play our game. It was really different. We could not find our flow or rhythm or anything like that. Whenever the Marquette game came, Tom (Anagnost) was like, I want you guys to go out there and show them that we are the tougher team. I think we did just that. In the first two minutes we already established that if we fall down, we are the first to get up or that we are going to win the ball from you."
On how much the team will rely on toughness with a young team…
"Any SEC school is real tough and gritty. I think we take pride in being the toughest one in our conference, and every team knows that. I think that just goes to show how hard we are going to work, and no matter how young we are, we are going to be able to pick up the slack in other areas. We are going to go out there and battle it out and try to be the tougher opponent every time."
On what she thinks Courtney Robicheaux is going to bring to the team…
"One thing about Courtney is that no matter – well we call her Robi – one thing about Robi is that no matter how our preparation goes, she is always going to go out there and give us her all. That is how she has always been, and I expect nothing less from her. She's the fastest one in our backline, and no one is going to get past Robi. I have 100 percent faith in her."
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