Soccer to Honor Seniors Before Match on Sunday

by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's undefeated soccer team will host Austin Peay on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT in Starkville. The Bulldogs will honor their five seniors with Senior Day festivities before the match.

It will be the first meeting between the two programs as the Governors are the only first-time opponent on MSU's schedule this year. Austin Peay is coming off a 3-1 loss to Little Rock on Friday night, but opened head coach Naomi Kolarova's first season with three straight shutout wins.

"Austin Peay is a solid team that keeps the ball well and wins games," head coach Tom Anagnost said. "They will be a difficult challenge for us."

Both teams play very stingy defense. The Bulldogs are holding opponents to just 6.6 shots per game. No MSU squad has ever finished a season while averaging less than 10.0. Austin Peay's opponents have only managed 7.8 shots through four games.

State has shutout four of its first five opponents and is looking to be the fastest team in program history to five shutouts if it can shutout the Governors in its sixth match of the year. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Rhylee DeCrane is currently seventh all-time in single-season shutouts, and would move up to a tie for fourth with another on Sunday.

The Bulldog offense has been explosive early, led by junior MaKayla Waldner and two freshmen. Waldner is tied for second in the SEC with five goals, and freshman Miranda Carrasco is tied for the conference lead with five assists. Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Zakirah McGillivary has scored in three straight matches. MSU is third in the conference in total goals (16) and fourth in shots (90).

Senior Day ceremonies will begin at 12:50 p.m. with the game airing on SEC Network+ at 1 p.m. The first 250 fans in attendance will receive free hand fans with the MSU soccer crest on them. Sunday's match wraps up MSU's first perfect attendance challenge of the year for fans that attended Thursday's match and Cowbell Yell along with today's football game.

State's next match will be on Sunday, Sept. 9, when the Bulldogs host Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. CT.

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."

Soccer to Honor Seniors Before Match on Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Miranda Carrasco

Rhylee DeCrane

Zakirah McGillivary

MaKayla Waldner

Mississippi State University Athletics