RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech soccer continues their SEC, Mississippi road trip with a match against Mississippi State at the Mississippi State Soccer Field in Starkville, Miss. Sunday, Sep. 4 at 1 p.m.
MATCH INFORMATION
Date/Time: Sunday, Sep. | 1 p.m.
Location: Mississippi State Soccer Field (Starkville, Miss.)
Live Stats:
LATechSports.com/Stats
Live Stream:
SEC Network +
Series: Mississippi State leads 3-0-0
ABOUT LA TECH (2-2-1)
Louisiana Tech comes into Starkville on the heels of their first road match of the season as they faced another SEC program in No. 12 ranked Ole Miss.
This is the first time in program history Tech will face back-to-back SEC opponents, and only the second time in program history facing multiple SEC programs (2007, LSU, Arkansas) in a single season.
In Thursday night's match with Ole Miss,
Sydnee Korchak tied her career-high with eight saves, but the closing minutes of each half proved to be too much for LA Tech as the Rebels put three goals through, one in the final minute of the first half and two in the final three minutes of the second half, to take the match 5-0.
Sophie Fijneman has proved a stable for LA Tech's back line leading a young and injured Tech squad. Fijneman leads the team in minutes played (450) and has gone the distance in four of the five matches so far this season.
The senior midfielder is the team's active leader in goals (7), assists (7), points (21), shots (65), and games played (54) has played all but 20 minutes of action and has registered two shots while handling most of Tech's free-kick duties.
Tech's opponents have a 35-21 shot-on-goal advantage through five matches but Tech has made more of their chances edging the competition in shots-on-goal percentage (.533-.449).
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (3-0-2)
Mississippi State comes into Sunday's matchup with a 3-0-2 overall record having conceded only one goal on the year in a 3-1 win over FIU. Mississippi State has played two 0-0 draws, one at Miami and against South Alabama in their previous match. The Bulldogs have claimed wins over FIU, Lipscomb (2-0), and Minnesota (1-0).
The defensive-minded Bulldogs have only given up seven shots on goal this season while producing 34 of their own. They hold an 80-28 advantage in total shots while outscoring their opponents 6-1 in five matches.
Freshman forward Maggie Wadsworth leads the team with five points off two goals and an assist. She produced back-to-back game-winners over Lipscomb and Minnesota.
Fellow freshman Alivia Buxton is the only other Bulldog with multiple goals scored as the midfielder put two in the net in the win over FIU.
In goal, junior Maddy Anderson has started and finished all five matches registering six saves and four shutouts, including the last three matches. The 2020 SEC All-Freshman selection has 33 starts in goal headed in her third year with Mississippi State.
THE SERIES
Sunday's matchup will be the fourth all-time meeting between LA Tech and Mississippi State on the pitch. The Bulldogs lead the series 3-0-0 with two of their wins coming in Starkville. This will be their first meeting since 2018.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For live in-match updates, follow LA Tech Soccer on Twitter (@LATechSOC), Instagram (@LATechSoccer), and Facebook (LATechSoccer).
