State Soccer Secures Two SEC Player of the Week Honors To Conclude Regular Season
October 31, 2024 | Soccer
Mississippi State's Anderson and Husbands Earn SEC Player of the Week Recognition
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State soccer continued its season of record-breaking achievements as two Bulldogs earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Goalkeeper Maddy Anderson was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, while forward Kennedy Husbands claimed her first career SEC accolade as SEC Freshman of the Week.
The Bulldogs' 2024 season has been defined by unprecedented defensive strength, driven in large part by Anderson's standout performances. With only two goals conceded in SEC play, the Bulldogs have set a new benchmark for defensive excellence, surpassing previous conference records. Anderson, who leads the SEC in every major goalkeeping category, has been the backbone of this unit. Her season totals are staggering: a league-high 13 shutouts, a conference-low four goals allowed, and a 0.23 goals-against average across all games. Her remarkable play in SEC action, where she has allowed just two goals over eight shutouts with a goals-against average of 0.20, has further solidified her dominance. This week's accolade marks Anderson's sixth career SEC Player of the Week honor and her third this season—setting a new program record for most weekly SEC honors in a single year and over a career.
Kennedy Husbands has emerged as a crucial offensive force for the Bulldogs. Her dynamic play and consistent contributions have been essential in securing wins across Mississippi State's final three conference matches, further underscoring her impact in her debut season. On October 24, in front of a program-record crowd of 2,867 fans at MSU Soccer Field, Husbands scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Kentucky, marking her second game-winner of the season and helping Mississippi State remain undefeated at home.
The Bulldogs continued their winning ways on October 27 with a 2-0 shutout victory at Texas A&M, in which Husbands assisted on the opening goal, setting the stage for Mississippi State to claim its first ever SEC Regular Season Championship. Husbands closed out the regular season with a strong showing against South Carolina on October 30, where she netted her second goal in three games, propelling Mississippi State to a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Across these three pivotal matchups, Husbands recorded three points (2 goals, 1 assist), took nine shots with an impressive .474 shot-on-goal percentage, and logged 119 minutes, showcasing her consistency, accuracy, and stamina.
The dual honors for Anderson and Husbands reflect the strength, depth, and balanced excellence of a Mississippi State team that has raised the bar for program achievement. The Bulldogs, boasting one of the nation's most impenetrable defenses alongside a potent offensive unit, continue to make history and remain undefeated in SEC play. This season, the combination of Anderson's record-setting performances and Husbands' offensive emergence has been integral to Mississippi State's historic campaign. With the postseason on the horizon, the Bulldogs are well-positioned to build on their momentum and further solidify their standing as one of the SEC's elite teams.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on X, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSoc."
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