Mississippi State
#11 Texas
Top 25 Showdown: No. 24 State Soccer Hosts No. 11 Texas In SEC Clash
September 21, 2024 | Soccer
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State, ranked No. 22 by TopDrawerSoccer and No.24Â in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, will face one of its toughest challenges of the season on Sunday, as they host No.11/4 Texas in a highly anticipated SEC clash. The Bulldogs, led by head coach James Armstrong in his sixth season, have started strong with a 7-1-0 overall record and a 1-0-0 mark in SEC play. This fixture marks the first-ever meeting between State and Texas on the pitch, adding to the excitement as Texas begins its inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-0 victory against Oklahoma in their SEC opener, where they spoiled the Sooners' first-ever SEC match with a shutout win. Goals from Zoe Main and Price Loposer secured the result for Mississippi State, continuing a trend of early success in conference play. The team has displayed a balanced attack and a solid defense, having scored 17 goals while allowing only two this season and featuring 12Â different goal-scorers. With an average of 2.13 goals per game, the Bulldogs are led offensively by Ally Perry, who has tallied three goals and two assists, and captain Aitana Martinez-Montoya, who has also found the back of the net three times.
Defensively, State has been nearly impenetrable, allowing just 0.25 goals per game and securing seven shutouts. Graduate goalkeeper Maddy Anderson, one of the top shot-stoppers in the SEC, has been a key figure, allowing only two goals in eight matches while registering an impressive .882 save percentage. Anderson, with 31 career shutouts, ranks sixth all-time in SEC history for cleansheets and has been a critical piece of the Bulldogs' formidable backline, which includes Alexis Gutierrez and veteran defenders Rylie Combs and Ruthny Mathurin.
Texas brings a high-octane offense and a perfect 7-0-2 record into Starkville. The Longhorns are ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and an impressive No. 4 by TopDrawerSoccer, marking them as one of the top teams in the country. The Longhorns are led by the dynamic duo of Lexi Missimo and Trinity Byars, both of whom earned All-American honors in 2023. Together, the pair accounted for 57% of Texas' points and 62% of the team's goals last season, making them one of the most dangerous attacking partnerships in collegiate soccer. The Longhorns return nearly their entire offensive core, including 97.1% of their goals and 96.3% of their points from last season.
Despite their impressive attack, Texas also boasts a solid defense, allowing just 0.67 goals per game. The Longhorns are eager to make their mark in the SEC and were picked to finish second in the conference's preseason poll, underscoring the high expectations surrounding the program. In their first taste of SEC action they battled to a 2-2 tie with Alabama.
State's record of success under Armstrong when scoring first is remarkable. The Bulldogs are 47-1-6 when netting the first goal and remain unbeaten at 30-0-3 when leading at halftime during his tenure. The key for the Bulldogs will be finding a way to strike early and maintain their defensive shape against Texas' relentless attack.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at MSU Soccer Field, and fans can catch the action via live stream on SECN+.
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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