Bulldogs Hungry For More
February 26, 2024 | Soccer
With spring soccer underway, State is already eyeing another successful fall.
STARKVILLE – If you've walked by the MSU Soccer Field lately, you might've heard the sweet sounds of soccer balls hitting the back of the net and the Mississippi State soccer team rejoicing over the early days of spring workouts.
It is an all-too-familiar sound for the Bulldogs. Last season was full of incredible goals on the pitch, which led to MSU's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
"It felt amazing because I felt like we've been building [to] it for the past four years and growing [as a team] each year," graduate goalkeeper Maddy Anderson said. "To continue to make history for another season [is] a huge blessing and a huge honor to be able to do that for our university."
Last season's talented group was a melting pot filled with experienced veterans like Anderson and Macey Hodge – along with skillful newcomers like Kennedy White and Megan Day.
The 2023 transfer portal class left a long-lasting impression on James Armstrong as the Bulldogs shattered program records last season.
"I think the best part of last year's transfer portal was the type of people they were," Armstrong said. "Every single one of them were great players in their own right, but they settled in so easily and so quickly. When you have good people that come in, it makes it much easier for them to transition into what we're trying to do and our culture."
Since Armstrong was named MSU's head coach in 2019, the Bulldogs have strung together a multitude of historic program feats. State's success is due in large credit to the culture that Armstrong has built every season since arriving in Starkville.
The culture of success has led to a tremendous buy-in from the players who perform on the pitch and the fans who fill the stands.
"When we first got here, it was really important for us to try and make soccer relevant here," Armstrong said. "We realized that we had to put a product on the field that was going to excite our fans, then we had to find the type of players that wanted to represent Mississippi State in a way that we wanted the program to be perceived."
For Armstrong and the Bulldogs, witnessing the program take off to historic heights has been an unbelievable sight.
"It's snowballed better than I could have ever imagined," Armstrong said. "People stopped me in [the] Atlanta airport, not even wearing Mississippi State gear, talking about our unbelievable run. A lot of hard work has gone into this and for the community to genuinely be proud of Mississippi State soccer is huge."
The Maroon and White faithful have played an integral role in the success and record-setting moments the program has attained over the last few years. Bulldog fans pack the stands and the West End to witness State leave blood, sweat and tears on the pitch.
Within the thousands of fans that show up and pack the MSU Soccer Field, is a dedicated group of fans that make signs and support Hodge.
The Macey Hodge fan club was in full effect at home and on the road last season.
"It's cool to see the Macey fan club and their signs, but just to see people show up for my teammates in general is super special," Hodge said. "I know they went to Tuscaloosa and stuff like that. Never in my wildest dreams [did] I think I would have people that [I] genuinely didn't know before the season on a personal level come and show up and follow me around."
As the Bulldogs continue to practice and improve in the spring, the upcoming season looms in the distance. The approaching 2024 campaign will allow the Bulldogs to display their talent, yet again, for the world to see.
Even though State reached historic heights once again last season, the program is hungry for more.
This year's impressive class of freshmen, transfers and experienced veterans have already begun preparations for a new season. The new faces putting on the Maroon and White kits have brought a new dynamic into the clubhouse, which Armstrong and his coaching staff must adjust to before the season kicks off in August.
"[I'm] super excited about the talent that we have, and I know the players hear me say it every year… this is the best group of players we've had," Armstrong said. "It's a great group of girls [and] they're working really hard. We'll find out once we see how they handle being out there and playing in front of a crowd and playing against somebody other than ourselves but couldn't be more excited for what we've seen so far."
