Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Leaving It All On The Pitch
August 14, 2024 | Soccer
State’s veteran captains preparing to lead the way for the Bulldogs.
STARKVILLE – For the talented seniors on the Mississippi State soccer roster this season, a chapter of their life will come to a close.
The bonds that were formed as Bulldogs are eternal, however. Ahead of their final season on the pitch in Starkville, the emotions poured out from the seniors who reflected on their time in the Maroon and White.
"It's [been] life-changing for me," graduate midfielder Macey Hodge said with tears welling up in her eyes. "The trajectory of my life changed four years ago. I would have been in a lot different places in my life if I wouldn't have come here, so I'm forever grateful."
Since her freshman season in 2020, Hodge has racked up 6,470 minutes played on the pitch for the Bulldogs. The tenacious midfielder from Douglasville, Georgia, also earned 2023 All-SEC First Team Midfielder honors in the Bulldogs' historic run to the Sweet 16 last season.
More important than the awards on the field, Hodge has developed into one of State's most integral leaders alongside teammates Aitana Martinez-Montoya and Maddy Anderson.
For the captains of State's 2024 squad, witnessing the hard work and determination of this year's freshman class is a good sign for the future of the foundation built on family.
"They want to learn, but the most important thing for us is that they want to be here," Martinez-Montoya said. "They want to make us better [and] they want to have our backs. They're also super open to learning from us, which is great."
Forming an undeniable bond with the freshman class and transfers built on respect and competing for one another has been key in continuing to push the program forward.
Last year's squad achieved historic heights under head coach James Armstrong. The Bulldogs reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in the program's history by defeating the likes of Providence and Brown in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The 2024 senior class achieving incredible success on and off the pitch has been no surprise for Armstrong and is something that he will forever be grateful for.
With continued success comes more competitive matchups. That is a testament that Armstrong is preaching to his group of athletes determined to finish out their time in the program strong.
"I think the one thing that will be different and unique for this program is there will be a legitimate target on our back," Armstrong said. "The only rankings that matter are at the end of the season. These girls understand there are those higher expectations from the coaching staff, but most importantly, they have higher expectations for themselves. There's going to be highs. There's going to be lows. But as long as we're just focusing on trusting the process day in and day out, the only thing we can control is our effort and attitude in everything we do."
Having totaled 13,802 minutes played on the pitch collectively, this year's captains have undeniable chemistry with each other and their fellow teammates that will be on full display for the Bulldog faithful one last time this season.
"Chemistry is a super big part of what we do and knowing them off the field as much as I do on the field has contributed to a lot of the success that we're having," Hodge said. "Soccer is one thing, but being a family is another. When you know the person you are playing next to, their tendencies, what they want and how they want to be communicated to, it makes things so much better. This group is super special in terms of that, and the bond and connection and it has taken us to a new level for sure."
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The bonds that were formed as Bulldogs are eternal, however. Ahead of their final season on the pitch in Starkville, the emotions poured out from the seniors who reflected on their time in the Maroon and White.
"It's [been] life-changing for me," graduate midfielder Macey Hodge said with tears welling up in her eyes. "The trajectory of my life changed four years ago. I would have been in a lot different places in my life if I wouldn't have come here, so I'm forever grateful."
Since her freshman season in 2020, Hodge has racked up 6,470 minutes played on the pitch for the Bulldogs. The tenacious midfielder from Douglasville, Georgia, also earned 2023 All-SEC First Team Midfielder honors in the Bulldogs' historic run to the Sweet 16 last season.
More important than the awards on the field, Hodge has developed into one of State's most integral leaders alongside teammates Aitana Martinez-Montoya and Maddy Anderson.
For the captains of State's 2024 squad, witnessing the hard work and determination of this year's freshman class is a good sign for the future of the foundation built on family.
"They want to learn, but the most important thing for us is that they want to be here," Martinez-Montoya said. "They want to make us better [and] they want to have our backs. They're also super open to learning from us, which is great."
Forming an undeniable bond with the freshman class and transfers built on respect and competing for one another has been key in continuing to push the program forward.
Last year's squad achieved historic heights under head coach James Armstrong. The Bulldogs reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in the program's history by defeating the likes of Providence and Brown in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The 2024 senior class achieving incredible success on and off the pitch has been no surprise for Armstrong and is something that he will forever be grateful for.
With continued success comes more competitive matchups. That is a testament that Armstrong is preaching to his group of athletes determined to finish out their time in the program strong.
"I think the one thing that will be different and unique for this program is there will be a legitimate target on our back," Armstrong said. "The only rankings that matter are at the end of the season. These girls understand there are those higher expectations from the coaching staff, but most importantly, they have higher expectations for themselves. There's going to be highs. There's going to be lows. But as long as we're just focusing on trusting the process day in and day out, the only thing we can control is our effort and attitude in everything we do."
Having totaled 13,802 minutes played on the pitch collectively, this year's captains have undeniable chemistry with each other and their fellow teammates that will be on full display for the Bulldog faithful one last time this season.
"Chemistry is a super big part of what we do and knowing them off the field as much as I do on the field has contributed to a lot of the success that we're having," Hodge said. "Soccer is one thing, but being a family is another. When you know the person you are playing next to, their tendencies, what they want and how they want to be communicated to, it makes things so much better. This group is super special in terms of that, and the bond and connection and it has taken us to a new level for sure."
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