Ready For The Challenge

STARKVILLE – The excitement that filled the room as Mississippi State awaited its' destiny for the NCAA Tournament was palpable on Monday afternoon.

With family, friends and staff gathered around in anticipation, the Bulldogs erupted when their name flashed across the screen during the NCAA Selection Show. The Bulldogs were handed a No. 6 seed and will face the Providence Friars. And the best news of all is it'll be taking place at the MSU Soccer Field.

For the second year in a row, MSU will host postseason action.

"[We] feel really good," head coach James Armstrong said. "It's always nice to see your name come up there and be announced. We obviously have a really good opponent that we're going to play, but we get to play another game [on] our home field in front of our fans [and] you can't ask for any more than that."

Make no mistake about it, the Bulldogs have earned every bit of their success. State's tenacious play on the pitch guided them to historic heights this season, including a semifinal appearance in the Southeastern Conference Tournament for the first time in program history after an exhilarating overtime victory over Alabama.

In his fifth year at the helm for MSU, Armstrong has led the program to 10 wins or more in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996 and 1997. State also received the highest ranking in program history in the United Soccer Coaches poll, coming in at No. 18 before they take to the pitch in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

After an outstanding season filled with moments that will last a lifetime, the Bulldogs get another opportunity to make even more history.

"Every single team that we've had has bought into the idea of what we've been trying to execute here," Armstrong said. "Last year was a very important milestone for the program in terms of hosting the NCAA Tournament and being [a] 7th seed. As long as there's belief in the room [and] as long as there's hard work [put in] by everyone associated with the program, then special things can happen."

The extraordinary group of talented veterans and newcomers have put in a tremendous amount of blood, sweat and tears for MSU. That hard work comes to fruition this Saturday.

"We all get to work with an unbelievable group of young ladies," Armstrong said. "Every single practice they have come and brought it. Every single game they've been unbelievably competitive [and] executed the game plan to the best of their ability. We're just thankful that we're around such awesome people that come in and work hard every day."

Since being named the head coach of the Bulldogs in 2019, Armstrong's main goal was to build a foundation for success, which included being competitive on the field and being loud in the stands.

MSU's fanbase has been fully invested in the program, which has been proven by the shattered attendance records in the last two years. Home-field advantage is huge, especially when you have the energetic State fans with cowbells aplenty.

"It's been a big thing for us to try and grow the fan base and the community involvement [and] excitement," Armstrong said. "This year in particular, every single game – the energy [and] the noise that everybody has brought and the different types of fans that we are getting makes it really exciting that we get to play one more home game in front of them. It's a difficult place to play and it makes a big difference."

State's first-round match against Providence will kick off Saturday, November 11, at 1 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Mississippi State University Athletics

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