Postgame Quotes: New Mexico State at Mississippi State

Mississippi State

Opening Statement: "First off, I'd like to congratulate New Mexico State on an unbelievable season. It was a really hard-fought game, and they did a great job. We knew when we first started scouting them, that they were well-coached, well-organized, physical, disciplined, and they showed up tonight. We knew that we'd have to be putting in a really good performance, and we did it tonight. I would also like to thank the fans for coming out tonight - unbelievable turnout tonight, great crowd, loud - all the people that went into putting on an unbelievable event, facilities, the groundskeeper, administration, everything else. It was a really great night on the field tonight and we're proud of everyone that was a part of it."

Q: What went into the decision to start Maddy Anderson in goal and what has her rehab been like?
JA: "It always great to get players back healthy. This week was a competition between the goalkeepers. Mac [Titus] actually was unavailable. She was limited for some of the training sessions. Hopefully, Mac will get some rest between now and the next game, and we'll get back to a really good goalkeeper competition next week. It was great to see Maddy back on the field regardless."

#12 Alivia Buxton, MF

Q: It's been a while since your last goal. How satisfying was that to get your team off to a good start?
AB: "Like Rylie said, it was more for the team. I saw that girl fall, so I knew the ball was going to come through. I was deciding if I wanted to take two touches or one, but my coaches always get mad when I take to. I was like, 'I'm just going to hit this one time,' and I hit it just right. It went right in the corner. It was a really big moment for our whole team. We have worked so hard for this moment, and it's important to all of us."

#16 Rylie Combs, D

Q: You didn't have a goal in your career, and now you have what's maybe the biggest one in school history. What are the emotions right now?
RC: "It was the last couple minutes of the game, and we needed this win. Our team has worked so hard all year, and I just felt like I owed the team one. It wasn't for myself. I was really excited because the way that we all celebrate - we all celebrate for each other and work for each other - it wasn't just my goal. It was a goal for our team."

New Mexico State

Head Coach Rob Baarts

Opening Statement: "It's tough to have words right now. I think it was just an emotional game. I'm so incredibly proud of my staff, my team and the school. What these guys have done for the school has been super special this year. Watching what Mississippi State has done here for soccer, I think it is very similar to us. It is a fitting match for it to be a war like that. It's tough for the last few minutes them to get the goal, but it's the game. We're going to get stronger for that, and I am so incredibly proud of my team."

Q: This is the first time you guys have made the Tournament in program history, what does this mean about the program moving forward??
RB: "It means everything. The path that these seniors have laid is a foundation that we won't take lightly. The freshman that come in next fall will know exactly what our standard is because of what these guys have done. They'll never be able to drop that now."

#14 Loma McNeese, MF

Q: What did you see on your goal and how did it transpire?
LM: "Throughout the season, I've gained a lot of confidence in using my body. When that ball slipped through by Bianca [Schulz], I used my body to protect the ball and had a wide open shot."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Quotes: New Mexico State at Mississippi State

Related News

Players Mentioned

Maddy Anderson

Alivia Buxton

Rylie Combs

Related Videos