Bulldog Soccer Announces 2009 Schedule

? 2009 Mississippi State Soccer Schedule

STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Eight home matches and an 11-game Southeastern Conference slate highlight Mississippi State’s 2009 women’s soccer schedule announced this week by head coach Neil Macdonald.

The Bulldogs open the 2009 campaign Aug. 23, hosting NCAA Tournament competitor Mississippi Valley State in a 1 p.m. match at the MSU Soccer Field.

State will also host Troy and East Tennessee State Sept. 11 and 13, respectively, before closing out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., to meet North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast.

“This is going to be a challenging schedule with almost half of our matches coming against teams that went to the NCAA Tournament last season,” Macdonald said. “We are facing some very good clubs in the non-conference season, and their differing styles of play will help prepare us for an always-challenging SEC schedule. Our team made tremendous strides during the spring, and with a talented group of freshman coming in, we are very excited heading into the season.”

MSU kicks off the Southeastern Conference portion of its schedule Sept. 25 and 27, hosting Western Division foes Auburn and Alabama, respectively.

Macdonald’s squad remains at home the next weekend, welcoming Sweet 16 participant Florida on Oct. 2 and another NCAA Tournament team, South Carolina, on Oct. 4.

Following the four-match home stand to open SEC play, the Bulldogs hit the road for matches against Tennessee (Oct. 9), Georgia (Oct. 11), Arkansas (Oct. 16), LSU (Oct. 18) and Vanderbilt (Oct. 22).

State hosts Kentucky on Oct. 25 before closing out the regular season at in-state rival Ole Miss (Oct. 30).

Macdonald enters his sixth season in Starkville with eight starters and 14 letterwinners returning from last year’s squad.

The Bulldogs play all home matches at the MSU Soccer Field. MSU’s Friday home matches begin at 7 p.m., while Sunday’s matches kick-off at 1 p.m.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldog Soccer Announces 2009 Schedule