Mississippi State
#14 South Carolina
No. 2 Bulldogs Set To Conclude Regular Season At South Carolina
October 29, 2024 | Soccer
STARKVILLE - Fresh off winning its first SEC Regular Season Championship, the No. 2 Bulldogs are set to close the 2024 regular season on the road with a highly anticipated match against South Carolina. The original matchup was postponed to Wednesday, October 30, at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium in Columbia due to weather and will now serve as the regular season finale. The Bulldogs, currently holding a 15-1-0 overall record and a flawless 9-0-0 mark in SEC play, have already made history this season with record-setting performances and now aim to add a final regular-season win to their resume before the postseason.
Under the guidance of Head Coach James Armstrong, now in his sixth season, State has shown unprecedented consistency on both ends of the pitch. Offensively, the Bulldogs have been dominant, netting 33 goals across the season with an impressive 2.06 goals-per-game average. Junior midfielder Ally Perry has led the charge, tallying nine goals and pacing the team with 21 points and 68 shots. Defensively, Mississippi State has been nearly impenetrable, allowing only three goals all season, with graduate goalkeeper Maddy Anderson anchoring the backline. Anderson's performance has been exceptional, boasting the nation's best goals-against average (0.191) and achieving 13 solo shutouts in 2024, which places her second all-time in SEC history with a career total of 38 shutouts. This formidable combination of offensive firepower and defensive resilience has been the key to Mississippi State's historic success.
State's last outing saw them clinch the SEC title with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Texas A&M. The Bulldogs were propelled by goals from Ally Perry and Elle McCaslin, while Anderson once again put on a stellar display to lead her team to its ninth shutout in SEC play. With the win, the Bulldogs not only secured sole possession of the SEC Regular Season Championship but also extended their winning streak to twelve games, a new program record.
South Carolina, brings an 8-1-7 overall record and a 5-1-3 mark in SEC play into the match. The Gamecocks are coming off a 2-1 victory over Auburn, led by standout senior forward Catherine Barry. Barry, who netted her 12th goal of the season and 45th career goal in the win, has been a driving force for South Carolina's offense this season. The Gamecocks also boast a solid defensive record, allowing an average of 0.94 goals per game and proving to be a formidable opponent on their home field.
The Bulldogs have found remarkable success in starting games strong under Armstrong's leadership. In his tenure, Mississippi State is an impressive 54-1-6 when scoring first and remains undefeated at 35-0-3 when leading at halftime. Setting the tone early has proven crucial, and the Bulldogs will look to maintain this trend in Columbia. Last weekend, Mississippi State's record-breaking season continued with a new program record of nine SEC wins, helping the Bulldogs also earn the highest national rankings in program history. Ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the TopDrawerSoccer Poll, Mississippi State is firmly positioned among the nation's elite, extending their ranking streak to sixteen consecutive weeks dating back to 2023.
TEAM COMPARISON
| Stat Category | Mississippi State | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 33 | 33 |
| Goals/Game | 2.06 | 3.06 |
| Goals Allowed/Game | 0.19 | 0.94 |
| Shots/Game | 17.9 | 12.4 |
| Shots on Goal % | .406 | .462 |
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