Sunday, August 28
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
UT Martin
Soccer Caps Home Weekend This Sunday Against UT Martin
August 27, 2016 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Head coach Aaron Gordon's squad will look to bounce back from Friday night's result, as Mississippi State (1-2-0) welcomes UT Martin (0-2-0) to the MSU Soccer Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
Sunday's showdown against the Skyhawks will mark the third meeting between the two programs, with the Bulldogs owning a 2-0-0 series lead against the visitors from Martin, Tenn. The Bulldogs faced UT Martin in preseason play last season on the road, earning a 1-0 friendly victory. The last time State faced the Skyhawks in regular season action was in 2012, as MSU won 3-2 in Starkville.
"On Friday night we had a great crowd and we need that again this Sunday," Gordon said. "Our focus now is on UT Martin and recovering. Sunday games are always tough because you're playing on short rest, so an energetic crowd will go a long way for us against UT Martin."
The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+, with live stats provided by HailState.com.
Last Time Out:
Lipscomb spoiled the Bulldogs' home opener on Friday night as the Bison rode the momentum from an early goal to a 1-0 victory against MSU. The win marked back-to-back Southeastern Conference victories for Lipscomb, after the squad downed inner-city rival Vanderbilt, 2-0 last Sunday. The Bison take on Ole Miss on Sunday to continue their SEC swing.
Scouting UT Martin:
UT Martin has been outscored 11-2 in its two losses on the season, as the Skyhawks have yet to earn a win in 2016. UTM lost to Western Kentucky at home, 7-1, before dropping a road contest to UAB, 4-1. The Skyhawks return 12 letterwinners from last year's squad that went 7-11-1. Senior Saphyr Coombs-James, who earned 19 points on seven goals and five assists last season, leads the club at the forward position. Coombs-James is responsible for one of UT Martin's two goals this season.
Keys For MSU:
State's success this season has come when the club is in attack mode, and the same will be true on Sunday if the Bulldogs hope to prevail. On Friday night, senior goalie Anna Buhigas halted State's attack as she collected nine saves. Four Bulldogs did earn multiple shots on target however, but Buhigas' effort combined with a little luck kept MSU from scoring.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs hit the road following Sunday's game against UT Martin. MSU travels to Mobile, Ala., on Friday, Sept. 2, to face South Alabama, before returning to the Magnolia State to battle Southern Miss on Sept. 4.
Additional Notes:
How to Watch Sunday's Game:
The contest will be available on SEC Network + via WatchESPN.
Live Stats:
Live stats for game can be found here or by visiting HailState.com.
Admission:
Admission for Sunday's game against UT Martin, as with all Bulldog home games, is free.
Promotions:
The first "Sunday Sundae" of the season will be at hand, as free ice cream will be provided for fans while supplies last. The crowd pleasing "Knockerball Tournament" also returns at halftime, with winners eligible to win a Bulldog Soccer Scarf and other great prizes. Those attending Sunday's game will also have a chance to catch some soccer swag during the t-shirt toss.
Social Media:
For more information on the Mississippi State soccer program, follow "HailStateSOC" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Sunday's showdown against the Skyhawks will mark the third meeting between the two programs, with the Bulldogs owning a 2-0-0 series lead against the visitors from Martin, Tenn. The Bulldogs faced UT Martin in preseason play last season on the road, earning a 1-0 friendly victory. The last time State faced the Skyhawks in regular season action was in 2012, as MSU won 3-2 in Starkville.
"On Friday night we had a great crowd and we need that again this Sunday," Gordon said. "Our focus now is on UT Martin and recovering. Sunday games are always tough because you're playing on short rest, so an energetic crowd will go a long way for us against UT Martin."
The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+, with live stats provided by HailState.com.
Last Time Out:
Lipscomb spoiled the Bulldogs' home opener on Friday night as the Bison rode the momentum from an early goal to a 1-0 victory against MSU. The win marked back-to-back Southeastern Conference victories for Lipscomb, after the squad downed inner-city rival Vanderbilt, 2-0 last Sunday. The Bison take on Ole Miss on Sunday to continue their SEC swing.
Scouting UT Martin:
UT Martin has been outscored 11-2 in its two losses on the season, as the Skyhawks have yet to earn a win in 2016. UTM lost to Western Kentucky at home, 7-1, before dropping a road contest to UAB, 4-1. The Skyhawks return 12 letterwinners from last year's squad that went 7-11-1. Senior Saphyr Coombs-James, who earned 19 points on seven goals and five assists last season, leads the club at the forward position. Coombs-James is responsible for one of UT Martin's two goals this season.
Keys For MSU:
State's success this season has come when the club is in attack mode, and the same will be true on Sunday if the Bulldogs hope to prevail. On Friday night, senior goalie Anna Buhigas halted State's attack as she collected nine saves. Four Bulldogs did earn multiple shots on target however, but Buhigas' effort combined with a little luck kept MSU from scoring.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs hit the road following Sunday's game against UT Martin. MSU travels to Mobile, Ala., on Friday, Sept. 2, to face South Alabama, before returning to the Magnolia State to battle Southern Miss on Sept. 4.
Additional Notes:
- MSU has used the same starting lineup in all exhibition and regular season games this season.
- Goalie Tanya de Souza has stopped 18 shots this season, which ranks second in the SEC
- De Souza's save percentage is also second in the league at .857
- The Paris native's 11 saves to open the season against College of Charleston are tied for the most by any SEC keeper this season
- De Souza, Carly Mauldin and Courtney Robicheaux have played 90 minutes in all three of MSU's games this season
How to Watch Sunday's Game:
The contest will be available on SEC Network + via WatchESPN.
Live Stats:
Live stats for game can be found here or by visiting HailState.com.
Admission:
Admission for Sunday's game against UT Martin, as with all Bulldog home games, is free.
Promotions:
The first "Sunday Sundae" of the season will be at hand, as free ice cream will be provided for fans while supplies last. The crowd pleasing "Knockerball Tournament" also returns at halftime, with winners eligible to win a Bulldog Soccer Scarf and other great prizes. Those attending Sunday's game will also have a chance to catch some soccer swag during the t-shirt toss.
Social Media:
For more information on the Mississippi State soccer program, follow "HailStateSOC" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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