Meeting Between 2024 SEC Champions Awaits Bulldogs In Austin

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State, the defending SEC regular season champion, will travel to Austin, Texas, on Thursday night to face Texas, the defending SEC Tournament champion, at 7 p.m. CT.

The match will air on ESPNU and it is the 15th time in the history of the conference that two teams that won conference titles in the previous season will meet head-to-head the following year. The regular-season champion holds a 10-3-1 edge in such meetings all-time.

The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive SEC opening weekend, downing No. 1 Tennessee, 3-2, in comeback fashion last week. For her efforts in scoring or assisting on all three goals, Ally Perry was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, and MSU climbed from receiving votes to No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches poll on Tuesday.

Somewhat under the radar, Adia Symmonds has been a key player of late, recording multiple points in three straight matches. She had two assists against Tennessee. Symmonds is one of 15 newcomers on a Bulldog squad that has seen freshmen or transfers account for eight of its 17 goals. Meanwhile, Texas also brought in 10 newcomers this year, and all but two of its goals have been scored by freshmen and sophomores.

Kicking Off

The Champs Are Here: Friday night will mark the 15th time that the SEC Tournament and regular season champions from the prior year meet the following season. The regular season champion is 10-3-1 in such meetings.

Points On Perry: Ally Perry was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after recording two goals and an assist in the win over No. 1 Tennessee. She is now is tied for third in MSU career history in assists (15) and game-winning goals (8). She is tied for eighth in goals (16) and seventh in points (47).

Fast Start: Nick Zimmerman is one of 20 first-time head coaches in Division I this year, and his six wins are tied for the most among that group. He is one of two with their squads among the RPI Top 25.

Ratings Are In: State opens the year as No. 3 in the initial NCAA RPI released this week. The Bulldogs are the only team with multiple wins against teams in the top five.

Our Ball: State has won the possession battle in every one of its wins this year.

About Texas (2-5-1, 0-1-0 SEC)

Rankings: United Soccer Coaches – NR | TopDrawerSoccer – NR
Head Coach: Ange Kelley | Record at TEX: 154-83-35 (14th Year) | Career Record: 314-167-55 (26th Year)

Series History

Notables

Texas won the SEC Tournament last fall, but have gotten off to a slower start this season. The Longhorns were third in the regular-season standings last year. Once again this season, Texas lost its first road conference match. Last year, it came at the hands of Mississippi State, and this year, the Horns fell at Missouri. Both Texas and MSU have played at Baylor this year and were shutout by the Bears. Ten of Texas' 12 goals have been scored by an underclassman. Of the 10 newcomers on the squad, nine are freshmen and five were TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 recruits.

Next Up

Mississippi State will welcome Auburn on Sunday night at 6 p.m. CT. It will be International Night at the MSU Soccer Field, which is significant for a club with three international players and another four that either have FIFA eligibility for multiple nations or have already represented a national team outside the United States. The first 500 fans in attendance that night will receive this year's MSU soccer scarf.

Follow the Bulldogs

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."

Meeting Between 2024 SEC Champions Awaits Bulldogs In Austin

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ally Perry

Adia Symmonds

Mississippi State University Athletics

Meeting Between 2024 SEC Champions Awaits Bulldogs In Austin

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ally Perry

Adia Symmonds

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