Thursday, September 12
Starkville
7:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
South Alabama
Bulldogs Face Tough Test When Top-10 Offense Visits Thursday
September 11, 2019 | Soccer
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's soccer team continues its September homestand on Thursday night when the Bulldogs host South Alabama at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
The first 100 fans in attendance will receive free snowballs, and fans can purchase additional snowballs throughout the match. Up to 200 HailState Rewards points are available to those who stay for the duration of the match, and Thursday will serve as a HailState Rewards prize pick-up day. Bully's Kids Club members can earn 150 points.
"We're really fortunate to be back at home," head coach James Armstrong said. "South Alabama have started out hot. What better way to turn around and play against a good team to really test ourselves again."
A stout Bulldog defense will be tasked with shutting down one of the top offenses in the nation. South Alabama boasts top-10 marks nationally in goals per game (3.67, 8th) and shots per game (19.8, 10th). The Jaguars have already scored 22 goals this year, just two shy of their season total in 2018. They are led by Briana Morris, who is fourth in the nation with eight goals.
State's defense has held four of its six opponents below their season averages in shots. After setting a program record with just 11.5 shots allowed per game in 2018, the Bulldogs are holding opponents to an even stiffer 9.7 attempts this year.
In their last match, the Bulldogs held No. 14/RV Memphis to 11 shots, five less than the Tigers' season average. MSU has only lost to ranked teams this year, and remains the only squad to have scored against No. 10/12 BYU this season.
Senior MaKayla Waldner has led MSU's offensive attack. While seven different players have scored for State, Waldner's five goals lead the team and rank 26th nationally. She and Vanderbilt's Haley Hopkins are the only SEC players with multiple multi-goal games this year.
Another ranked non-conference opponent awaits MSU on Sunday when No. RV/18 Boston College visits Starkville. Sunday's kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. and will also air on SEC Network+.
Location: Starkville, Mississippi
Time: Thursday, 7 p.m. CT
Broadcast: SEC Network+ (PxP – Anthony Craven; Analyst – Chris Nasuti)
At MSU: 3-3-1
At USA: 4-2-0
Neutral Sites: 1-0-0
Last Meeting: Aug. 26, 2018 (MSU 3 at USA 0)
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's soccer team continues its September homestand on Thursday night when the Bulldogs host South Alabama at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
The first 100 fans in attendance will receive free snowballs, and fans can purchase additional snowballs throughout the match. Up to 200 HailState Rewards points are available to those who stay for the duration of the match, and Thursday will serve as a HailState Rewards prize pick-up day. Bully's Kids Club members can earn 150 points.
"We're really fortunate to be back at home," head coach James Armstrong said. "South Alabama have started out hot. What better way to turn around and play against a good team to really test ourselves again."
A stout Bulldog defense will be tasked with shutting down one of the top offenses in the nation. South Alabama boasts top-10 marks nationally in goals per game (3.67, 8th) and shots per game (19.8, 10th). The Jaguars have already scored 22 goals this year, just two shy of their season total in 2018. They are led by Briana Morris, who is fourth in the nation with eight goals.
State's defense has held four of its six opponents below their season averages in shots. After setting a program record with just 11.5 shots allowed per game in 2018, the Bulldogs are holding opponents to an even stiffer 9.7 attempts this year.
In their last match, the Bulldogs held No. 14/RV Memphis to 11 shots, five less than the Tigers' season average. MSU has only lost to ranked teams this year, and remains the only squad to have scored against No. 10/12 BYU this season.
Senior MaKayla Waldner has led MSU's offensive attack. While seven different players have scored for State, Waldner's five goals lead the team and rank 26th nationally. She and Vanderbilt's Haley Hopkins are the only SEC players with multiple multi-goal games this year.
Another ranked non-conference opponent awaits MSU on Sunday when No. RV/18 Boston College visits Starkville. Sunday's kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. and will also air on SEC Network+.
Game Information
Opponent: South AlabamaLocation: Starkville, Mississippi
Time: Thursday, 7 p.m. CT
Broadcast: SEC Network+ (PxP – Anthony Craven; Analyst – Chris Nasuti)
Series History
Overall: 8-5-1At MSU: 3-3-1
At USA: 4-2-0
Neutral Sites: 1-0-0
Last Meeting: Aug. 26, 2018 (MSU 3 at USA 0)
Fast Facts
- After leading MSU in shots in each of the past two years, MaKayla Waldner is pacing the Bulldog offense once again. Waldner leads the team in points (10), goals (5), shots (16) and shots on goal (9).
- Waldner is second in the league and 26th in the country in total goals and fifth in the SEC in total points. She and Vanderbilt's Haley Hopkins are the only SEC players with multiple multi-goal games this year.
- The Bulldogs are holding opponents to just 9.7 shots per game this year, which is nearly two shots fewer than last year's school record of 11.5.
- State picked up 36 fouls on its two-game road trip earlier this season, but without those games the Bulldogs would be averaging just 6.3 fouls per game and have the lowest mark in the SEC.
- An MSU win would be State's third in the last four meetings with South Alabama. MSU has not lost to the Jaguars since 2015.
- Twelve Bulldogs have already recorded a point, which is tied for fourth in the SEC behind Arkansas (19), Vanderbilt (16) and Georgia (14). Last year, just 13 players recorded a point all season.
- State boasts 16 newcomers, but returns 65 percent of its scoring.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
Players Mentioned
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