Mississippi State
Baylor
No. 18 Mississippi State Set To Host Baylor To Kickoff 2024 Season
August 14, 2024 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – No. 18 Mississippi State is set to kick off its 2024 campaign on Thursday night by welcoming Baylor to the MSU Soccer Field. The Power Four matchup is slated for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff and will serve as the official start to the 2024-25 athletic season in Starkville.
Coming off a strong 2023 season, State is eager to showcase its talents in front of a sea of the Maroon and White faithful on Thursday night. The Dawgs enter the match with high expectations, having earned their highest preseason ranking in program history. TopDrawerSoccer lists MSU at No. 15, while the United Soccer Coaches poll ranks them at No. 18 to start the season.
This matchup marks the first time the Bulldogs and Bears will face off on the pitch since 2002 when Baylor edged MSU 2-1 in Waco. This long-awaited rematch adds an extra layer of excitement to Thursday's contest.
Five Bulldogs were recently named to the SEC Preseason Watch List, underscoring the depth and talent on this year's squad. Maddy Anderson, Macey Hodge, Hannah Johnson, Rylie Combs and Aitana Martinez-Montoya have all been recognized as key players to watch for within the Southeastern Conference in 2024.
Macey Hodge continues to garner attention on the national stage. In addition to her SEC recognition, Hodge earned the 45th spot on TopDrawerSoccer's Preseason Top 100 Players List. Hodge's ability to control the midfield and lead the team is an integral part of Mississippi State's continued success in the James Armstrong Era.
Armstrong has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back 10+ win seasons, a feat not achieved since 1996 and 1997. Armstrong's leadership has propelled the program to new heights, and the team is poised to build on that momentum in 2024.
On the Baylor side, junior Tyler Isgrig was named to the 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 team, a recognition that follows an impressive 2023 season where she started all 19 games. Isgrig led the Bears with nine assists, the most by any Bear since 2015, and scored six goals, finishing second on the team. Isgrig also tallied 21 points, playing 1,255 minutes and leading the Bears with 52 shots, 29 of which were on goal. Baylor, under the guidance of head coach Michelle Lenard, will kick off the season on the road for just the 10th time in program history, holding a 4-4-1 record in previous such games.
The Bears, a formidable opponent from the Big 12 Conference, will provide an early-season test for the Bulldogs. Baylor is known for its physical style of play and strong defensive organization, which will challenge MSU's dynamic attack.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and ring loudly to support the Bulldogs in their home opener. For those unable to attend in person, the match will be streamed live via SEC Network+.
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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