Sunday, August 30
Starkville
6 p.m.
Mississippi State
vs
Alcorn State
Unbeaten Bulldogs Test In-State Winning Streak Sunday
August 29, 2026 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – The Bulldogs will look to extend an eight-match winning streak against in-state opponents when Mississippi State hosts Alcorn State in the first ever meeting between the two programs. The Lady Braves will be the second of three in-state opponents on the MSU's 2026 schedule.
The Bulldogs are 13-0-0 in regular-season, non-conference matches at home since Aug. 31, 2023. They have not lost to another Mississippi school since the final match of the 2019 season.
State (4-0-0) has won three of its four matches by three or more goals. Meanwhile, only one team has put multiple shots on target against MSU. With 13 goals entering play on Sunday, the Bulldogs could match the record for scoring through a State team's first five games with three more against the Lady Braves.
Alcorn State has been in shootouts early this season. After its opener was decided by one goal and saw the two teams combine for three tallies, the last two matches have seen the Lady Braves and their opponents combine for 18 total goals.
Bang-Bang: Over the last 10 years, State has scored twice in less than six minutes 20 times in 19 separate matches, going 17-2-0 in those games. The Bulldogs already have three such pairs of goals this season alone with two coming in their last match.
Points Watch: Kati Anne Shepherd and Hailey Johnson have a chance to do some special scoring Sunday. Both are in striking distance of recording 10 points in the first five games of a season. Shepherd needs two and Johnson needs three to accomplish something done six times by four different players previously but not achieved since 2019.
Slim Shooting: State has held opponents to fewer than 10.0 shots per game in four straight seasons. This year's 4.5 shots per game would be a school record.
Head Coach: Ken Karbiru | Record at ALCN: 6-10-4 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 28-34-5 (5th Year)
The Bulldogs are 13-0-0 in regular-season, non-conference matches at home since Aug. 31, 2023. They have not lost to another Mississippi school since the final match of the 2019 season.
State (4-0-0) has won three of its four matches by three or more goals. Meanwhile, only one team has put multiple shots on target against MSU. With 13 goals entering play on Sunday, the Bulldogs could match the record for scoring through a State team's first five games with three more against the Lady Braves.
Alcorn State has been in shootouts early this season. After its opener was decided by one goal and saw the two teams combine for three tallies, the last two matches have seen the Lady Braves and their opponents combine for 18 total goals.
Kicking Off
Overpowering Offense: For just the seventh time in program history, State has scored 10 goals before playing five games. If MSU outscores Alcorn State by three or more goals on Sunday, it will secure its best goal differential ever through five matches.Bang-Bang: Over the last 10 years, State has scored twice in less than six minutes 20 times in 19 separate matches, going 17-2-0 in those games. The Bulldogs already have three such pairs of goals this season alone with two coming in their last match.
Points Watch: Kati Anne Shepherd and Hailey Johnson have a chance to do some special scoring Sunday. Both are in striking distance of recording 10 points in the first five games of a season. Shepherd needs two and Johnson needs three to accomplish something done six times by four different players previously but not achieved since 2019.
Slim Shooting: State has held opponents to fewer than 10.0 shots per game in four straight seasons. This year's 4.5 shots per game would be a school record.
About Alcorn State (1-2-0, 0-0-0 SWAC)
Rankings: IWSOC – NR | TopDrawerSoccer – NRHead Coach: Ken Karbiru | Record at ALCN: 6-10-4 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 28-34-5 (5th Year)
Series History
Overall: 0-0-0 | Current Streak: N/A | Home: 0-0-0 | Away: 0-0-0 | Neutral: 0-0-0 | Last Meeting: NoneNotables
Alcorn State is led by forward Grace Ambrose, who has earned SWAC Offensive Player of the Week honors in each of the first two weeks of the season. Ambrose leads the team with 10 points, including four goals. Three of those goals came in a 7-4 win at Nicholls State in the team's last match. Meanwhile, Annick Zouma also turned in a hat trick last time out against the Colonels. The Lady Braves have used a pair of goalkeepers. Bailey Perales took over in net 62 minutes in against ULM after Alcorn State had already surrendered six goals. She herself has only allowed four this season.Next Up
The Bulldogs close a six-match homestand with two more games at the MSU Soccer Field next week. State hosts Louisiana at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday night and Charlotte at 1 p.m. on Sunday for Senior Day. Both matches 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."
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