Thursday, August 20
Starkville
6 p.m.
Mississippi State
vs
Arkansas State
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
State Opens Six-Match Homestand On Thursday
August 19, 2026 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State hosts Arkansas State for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff on Thursday night. The match is slated to air on SEC Network+.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-0-0 opening week with wins against South Alabama and at UAB. Hailey Johnson has scored in both matches so far, and the Bulldogs have yet to trail in 2026.
State is outshooting opponents, 32-9, this season and has put half of its shots on target. The Bulldogs rank third nationally in corners per game with 25 through two matches. Meanwhile, they've allowed just seven.
Students in attendance on Thursday night can claim raffle tickets for a variety of prizes, including an mini soccer ball signed by head coach Kevin O'Brien. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff.
How Old Is She?: Kati Anne Shepherd should be a senior in high school this fall after reclassifying to join the program early. At just 17 years and 75 days old, she became the youngest scorer in program hisotry when she netted MSU's first goal of the season.
Commanding The Corner: The Bulldogs rank third nationally and second in the SEC, averaging 12.50 corners per game. State has posted double-digit corner kicks in both games this season while not allowing more than four in either match.
Seen You Before: Thursday's match will be the first time at MSU that Kevin O'Brien plays an opponent he has previously coached against. O'Brien defeated Arkansas State, 1-0, in overtime in 2017 while he was leading Lipscomb.
Head Coach: Brian Dooley | Record at ARST: 51-81-28 (12th Year) | Career Record: 243-205-49 (30th Year)
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-0-0 opening week with wins against South Alabama and at UAB. Hailey Johnson has scored in both matches so far, and the Bulldogs have yet to trail in 2026.
State is outshooting opponents, 32-9, this season and has put half of its shots on target. The Bulldogs rank third nationally in corners per game with 25 through two matches. Meanwhile, they've allowed just seven.
Students in attendance on Thursday night can claim raffle tickets for a variety of prizes, including an mini soccer ball signed by head coach Kevin O'Brien. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff.
Kicking Off
On The Front Foot: The Bulldogs have never trailed this season, and thanks to their early scoring, MSU has led for 168:29 of the 180:00 minutes its played. State scored in the fifth and seventh minutes in the first two matches of 2026.How Old Is She?: Kati Anne Shepherd should be a senior in high school this fall after reclassifying to join the program early. At just 17 years and 75 days old, she became the youngest scorer in program hisotry when she netted MSU's first goal of the season.
Commanding The Corner: The Bulldogs rank third nationally and second in the SEC, averaging 12.50 corners per game. State has posted double-digit corner kicks in both games this season while not allowing more than four in either match.
Seen You Before: Thursday's match will be the first time at MSU that Kevin O'Brien plays an opponent he has previously coached against. O'Brien defeated Arkansas State, 1-0, in overtime in 2017 while he was leading Lipscomb.
About Arkansas State (0-0-2, 0-0-0 SBC)
Rankings: United Soccer Coaches – NR | TopDrawerSoccer – NRHead Coach: Brian Dooley | Record at ARST: 51-81-28 (12th Year) | Career Record: 243-205-49 (30th Year)
Series History
Overall: 3-1-0 | Current Streak: Won 3 | Home: 2-0-0 | Away: 1-1-0 | Neutral: 0-0-0 | Last Meeting: March 13, 2021, MSU 2-0Notables
Unlike Mississippi State, which has never trailed this season, Arkansas State has yet to hold a lead in either match of 2026. The Red Wolves lost 1-0 in their opener to MSU head coach Kevin O'Brien's former Lipscomb squad. They got their first goal of the year on Sunday, scoring on a rebound in the final 10 minutes of a 2-1 loss to in-state rival Little Rock. That has not discouraged the Arkansas State attack, however. The Red Wolves are among the top five squads in the Sun Belt in both shots on goal per game (7.00) and shots on goal percentage (.519).Next Up
The Bulldogs remain at home on Sunday for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Southern Miss. The match will air on SEC Network+.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."
Players Mentioned
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