Sunday, November 3
Orange Beach, Ala. (Orange Beach Sportsplex)
3:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Ole Miss
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Bulldogs Open SEC Tournament with Rivalry Rematch
November 02, 2019 | Soccer
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Mississippi State will play its first SEC Tournament match in 15 years on Sunday when the Bulldogs meet in-state rival Ole Miss for the second time this season. The first-round matchup will air on SEC Network at 3:30 p.m. CT.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw earlier this season in their annual rivalry match in September. The Rebels (9-6-3, 3-4-3 SEC) were the first postseason opponent in MSU's history, defeating State, 2-1, in the 2001 SEC Tournament.
That was before the league moved the postseason tournament to Orange Beach. Since that time, State has never qualified. The oldest Bulldog on the roster, MaKayla Waldner, was only seven years old the last time MSU (8-7-3, 3-4-3 SEC) made the bracket.
The Bulldogs put together one of the best three-match stretches of SEC play in their history to close the 2019 regular season and pull themselves into the SEC Tournament. With two draws and a victory in the regular-season finale, State's unbeaten streak in SEC play is tied for the longest in its history.
State took 65 shots over its final three games to climb from 10th in the SEC in conference games to finish fourth. The 21.7 shots per game in that span is 7.3 shots more than MSU's season average.
"We're going to enjoy it, but it's a business trip," head coach James Armstrong said. "We're going to embrace that moment. We have a great group of girls that don't want the season to be over, so we're going to keep going for as long as we can. It was a great game last time. We have a lot of respect for Ole Miss. It was a tight game last time, and it will come down to it again. We're looking forward to the challenge."
Armstrong is the fifth active SEC coach to have made the SEC tournament in their first season at their current school. Of those, only Armstrong and Georgia's Billy Lesesne did so in their first year as a head coach of any program.
State has had one of its most successful seasons away from home this year. The Bulldogs' four road wins are the third-most in program history. MSU also averages 0.73 more goals per game and puts 7.3 percent more shots on target when playing away from Starkville.
A win would mark the first postseason victory in school history and State's first win against Ole Miss since 2012, though the teams have reached multiple draws in that span. It would also extend State's unbeaten streak against SEC opponents to a school-record four matches.
Tickets are available on-site at the Orange Beach Sportsplex for $5. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade can get in for $2.
Location: Orange Beach, Alabama
Time: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. CT
Broadcast: SEC Network (PxP – Mike Watts; Analyst – Heather Mitts; Sideline – Jill Loyden)
At MSU: 4-5-3
At OM: 2-8-2
Neutral Sites: 0-1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 26, 2019 (OM 1 at MSU 1)
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Mississippi State will play its first SEC Tournament match in 15 years on Sunday when the Bulldogs meet in-state rival Ole Miss for the second time this season. The first-round matchup will air on SEC Network at 3:30 p.m. CT.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw earlier this season in their annual rivalry match in September. The Rebels (9-6-3, 3-4-3 SEC) were the first postseason opponent in MSU's history, defeating State, 2-1, in the 2001 SEC Tournament.
That was before the league moved the postseason tournament to Orange Beach. Since that time, State has never qualified. The oldest Bulldog on the roster, MaKayla Waldner, was only seven years old the last time MSU (8-7-3, 3-4-3 SEC) made the bracket.
The Bulldogs put together one of the best three-match stretches of SEC play in their history to close the 2019 regular season and pull themselves into the SEC Tournament. With two draws and a victory in the regular-season finale, State's unbeaten streak in SEC play is tied for the longest in its history.
State took 65 shots over its final three games to climb from 10th in the SEC in conference games to finish fourth. The 21.7 shots per game in that span is 7.3 shots more than MSU's season average.
"We're going to enjoy it, but it's a business trip," head coach James Armstrong said. "We're going to embrace that moment. We have a great group of girls that don't want the season to be over, so we're going to keep going for as long as we can. It was a great game last time. We have a lot of respect for Ole Miss. It was a tight game last time, and it will come down to it again. We're looking forward to the challenge."
Armstrong is the fifth active SEC coach to have made the SEC tournament in their first season at their current school. Of those, only Armstrong and Georgia's Billy Lesesne did so in their first year as a head coach of any program.
State has had one of its most successful seasons away from home this year. The Bulldogs' four road wins are the third-most in program history. MSU also averages 0.73 more goals per game and puts 7.3 percent more shots on target when playing away from Starkville.
A win would mark the first postseason victory in school history and State's first win against Ole Miss since 2012, though the teams have reached multiple draws in that span. It would also extend State's unbeaten streak against SEC opponents to a school-record four matches.
Tickets are available on-site at the Orange Beach Sportsplex for $5. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade can get in for $2.
Game Information
Opponent: Ole Miss (SEC Tournament First Round)Location: Orange Beach, Alabama
Time: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. CT
Broadcast: SEC Network (PxP – Mike Watts; Analyst – Heather Mitts; Sideline – Jill Loyden)
Series History
Overall: 6-14-5At MSU: 4-5-3
At OM: 2-8-2
Neutral Sites: 0-1-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 26, 2019 (OM 1 at MSU 1)
Fast Facts
- With a win Armstrong would be the first coach in program history to win a postseason match and be tied for the most wins by a first-year head coach in MSU soccer history.
- State's active three-match unbeaten streak in league play is tied with the 2017 and 2015 seasons for the longest in school history.
- This season will mark the second time the Bulldogs meet the Rebels twice in one year and the second postseason meeting between the clubs.
- State's four road wins this season rank third in program history behind 2001 (6-4-0 in road matches) and 1997 (5-4-1).
- State posted its third-best winning percentage in league play (.450) while recording its highest point total (12) since 2004 (16).
- Monigo Karnley and Olivia Hernandez have become lethal creators in the box this season and were tied for fourth in SEC play with four assists each. Both forwards have recorded an assist in three straight matches.
- Since the start of the 2017 season, MSU is 24-3-3 when scoring first. All-time, the Bulldogs are 149-37-7 when they score first.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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