Mississippi State
4-1-0, 0-0-0
Tennessee Tech
0-4-1, 0-0-0
Dawgs Victorious Over Tennessee Tech On Senior Night
August 29, 2024 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State (4-1-0) honored ten seniors on senior night with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tennessee Tech (0-4-1).
Aitana Martinez-Montoya scored the lone goal, securing the win for her senior class in front of a sea of Maroon and White at the MSU Soccer Field on Thursday. The game-winning goal came just past the hour mark in the 63rd minute when Martinez-Montoya sent in a one-timer for her second goal of the season.
The goal was set up by an impressive combination of passes from Kennedy Husbands and Hannah Johnson. Husbands threaded a perfectly timed pass to Johnson, who then delivered a precise flick to Martinez-Montoya, allowing her to slot the ball past Tennessee Tech's goalkeeper from 20 yards out.
State dominated the match, outshooting Tennessee Tech 18-2, with seven of those shots on target. The Dawgs relentless attack put the Golden Eagles under constant pressure, especially in the second half, where they fired 10 shots compared to the Golden Eagles' single attempt.
Despite the persistent offensive efforts, Tech's defense, anchored by their goalkeeper, held strong for much of the game, recording six saves. However, it was the Bulldogs' resilience that ultimately paid off.
Maddy Anderson was rarely tested, needing to make just one save in the first half to secure her 29th career shutout, continuing her climb up the SEC all-time shutout leaderboard.
The victory on senior night was a fitting tribute to Mississippi State's 2024 senior class, who have been instrumental in the program's success over the past few seasons.
Mississippi State will look to carry this momentum into Sunday afternoon when the Dawgs host South Alabama at 1 PM to celebrate the great Bulldogs of the past with the culmination of Alumni Weekend.
Quoting Head Coach James Armstrong
On The Senior Class
JA: It has been a very emotional day. We came here five years ago and a lot of these girls have been with us for a long time. They have made such a massive impact on this program and changed the perception [of Mississippi State] on a national scale and broken so many records. They have been a great group and they have not only been great on the field, but in the classroom and in the locker room. We challenge them to leave the jersey in a better place and each and every one of them has done that ten-fold."
Quoting Forward Aitana Martinez-Montoya
On The Game Winner
AM: "Scoring on senior night was very special to me. As long as I help the team, it does not matter if it is a goal or an assist. I was so happy to score for my class. My mom came all the way here from Spain, so it meant a lot to me to have her in the stands. Being this far away from home, Mississippi State feels like family. No matter what, I am always going to have my sisters here. I am just really grateful for them."
Quoting Goalkeeper Maddy Anderson
On Being a Bulldog
MA: "It has meant the world to me to be here in Starkville. It has been the best five years that I have ever had and I am so thankful that I decided to come here those many years ago. I am very thankful for all the memories and all the people. It has been an amazing feeling being loved on so much by my teammates, my coaches, the fans and everyone in the community. It has been such a special five years, and I would not trade them for anything.
Match Summary
- Score: Mississippi State 1, Tennessee Tech 0
- Goal: Aitana Martinez-Montoya (63') | Assist: Hannah Johnson, Kennedy Husbands
- Attendance: 1,073
- Shots: Mississippi State 18, Tennessee Tech 2
- Corners: Mississippi State 7, Tennessee Tech 1
- Fouls: Mississippi State 11, Tennessee Tech 10
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."
– HailState.com –
Team Stats
Aitana Martinez-Montoya (2)
Assisted By: Hannah Johnson , Kennedy Husbands
GOAL by MSU Martinez-Montoya, Aitana Assist by Johnson, Hannah and Husbands, Kennedy.
62:55
