State Soccer Earns Historic No. 1 Seed In NCAA Tournament
November 11, 2024 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – In a thrilling announcement, Mississippi State soccer has secured its first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament, a landmark achievement for a team that has continuously rewritten the record books this season. As the path to the College Cup now runs through Starkville, the Bulldogs (17-2-0) will open tournament play against Southern (9-9-2) on Saturday at the MSU Soccer Field, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. CT.
For the Bulldogs, hearing their name called as a top seed brought a mix of anticipation and excitement. Mississippi State's dominant regular season – highlighted by their first-ever SEC Regular Season Championship – firmly cemented their spot among the tournament's top teams. Mississippi State was the fourth No. 1 seed announced, with Duke taking the overall top spot.
"We're incredibly honored to receive the No. 1 seed," said head coach James Armstrong, now the winningest coach in program history. "This group has worked tirelessly to get here, and it's such a special moment to know that we'll be hosting in Starkville with our amazing fans behind us. We're focused and ready to put all our energy into Saturday's game."
The journey to a No. 1 seed is particularly meaningful for the Bulldogs' senior class, a group that has walked with Coach Amrstrong every step of the way and once aimed simply to qualify for the SEC Tournament. "We used to talk about how incredible it would be to reach this level," said SEC Defender of the Year Rylie Combs. "Now, it's our reality, and we believe in ourselves. Why not us? This is our year."
Following a grueling final week of the regular season that included three games in seven days, the Bulldogs welcome a return to their home field for the first round. Despite missing out on the SEC Tournament title, goalkeeper Maddy Anderson views the recent setback as beneficial. "Getting that loss might have been necessary for us to regroup," she explained. "We hadn't lost since August, and now we've had the chance to get fresh legs and fine-tune before heading into the tournament."
The Bulldogs' opponent, Southern, arrives in Starkville on a four-game winning streak, including three victories in the SWAC Tournament. Armstrong emphasized the team's respect for Southern, noting, "They're conference champions and played a tough non-conference schedule. They're well-prepared, and we're ready to put in the work and study them closely."
Tickets for Saturday's match are on sale now, with general admission seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
"Playing at home with our fans makes this moment even more special," said Armstrong. "The energy in our stadium has been incredible all season. We're hoping to keep that momentum going and are taking things one game at a time. We're thrilled to start this journey at home and hope to keep it going for as long as we can."
Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CT this Saturday at MSU Soccer Field as Mississippi State opens its historic NCAA Tournament run. Fans are encouraged to show up in full force to support the Bulldogs as they continue their quest for the College Cup.
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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