Friday, October 12
College Station
7:30 p.m.
Texas A&M
vs
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Mississippi State
Photo by: Eric Glemser
Match Preview: No. 23 Mississippi State
Oct 11, 2018 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies and No. 23 Mississippi State Bulldogs face off in a Top 25 showdown Friday evening at Ellis Field. Match time is 7:30 p.m.
The Aggie will be celebrating Senior Night, honoring Emily Bates, Brittany Crabtree, Kate Hajdu, Claudette Lassandro, Cosette Morché, Kendall Ritchie and Margaret Schmidt.
The contest will be available for viewing on SEC Network+ with David Ellis (play-by-play) and Jeff Given (color analyst) on the call. SEC Network+ provides events to SEC Network subscribers through WatchESPN and the ESPN app on smartphones, computers, tablets and connected devices (Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One). The game will also air on 102.7 The Zone locally and RadioAggieland.com worldwide.
Texas A&M needs three points to stay in striking distance of first-place Vanderbilt who leads the league with 18 points with a 6-0-0 SEC record. The Aggies are in third place with 13 points (4-1-1) while Mississippi State tied for seventh place with 7 points (2-3-1). In their two previous games against Top 25 teams this season, the Texas A&M has won by a combined 7-0 margin – then-No. 9 Santa Clara (4-0) and then-No. 18 Kansas (3-0).
The Aggies have spent a majority of the 2018 campaign in an enviable position. Over the course of 1,370 minutes of play, Texas A&M has trailed for just 75:50. The Maroon & White have owned the lead for 822:39 and action has been tied for 471:31.
Texas A&M enjoy the luxury of having one of the most veteran goalkeepers in the nation minding the net. Morché ranks among the active leaders in shutouts (11th - 23), minutes played (11th - 6,211:50) and saves (16th - 302). She boasts a 1.06 career goals-against average, including a 0.68 mark in her two seasons at Texas A&M. Morché is 31-3-3 (.878) all-time as the Aggies' goalkeeper.
The Aggies are 6-0-0 all-time against Mississippi State, outscoring the Bulldogs, 21-2. Last year, Texas A&M claimed a 2-1 victory in Starkville. Courtney Robicheaux scored for the Bulldogs in the fifth minute. Emily Bates tied the match in the 21st minute, and Grace Piper scored the game-winner in the 66th minute.
Mississippi State is 9-3-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the SEC. With a victory, the Bulldogs would rack up 10 wins for the first time since 2001 and just the four time in program history. Zakirah McGillivary leads Mississippi State with 15 points on seven goals and one assist. MaKayla Waldner has chipped in 14 points on seven goals. Brooke McKee has contributed 10 points on three goals and four assists while Carly Mauldin and Niah Johnson both have nine points on four goals and one assist. Rylee DeCrane has racked up 1,186 minutes in goal, logging a 0.68 GAA, a .795 save percentage and seven shutouts.
PROMOTIONS
Teacher Appreciation Night:
The Aggie will be celebrating Senior Night, honoring Emily Bates, Brittany Crabtree, Kate Hajdu, Claudette Lassandro, Cosette Morché, Kendall Ritchie and Margaret Schmidt.
The contest will be available for viewing on SEC Network+ with David Ellis (play-by-play) and Jeff Given (color analyst) on the call. SEC Network+ provides events to SEC Network subscribers through WatchESPN and the ESPN app on smartphones, computers, tablets and connected devices (Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One). The game will also air on 102.7 The Zone locally and RadioAggieland.com worldwide.
Texas A&M needs three points to stay in striking distance of first-place Vanderbilt who leads the league with 18 points with a 6-0-0 SEC record. The Aggies are in third place with 13 points (4-1-1) while Mississippi State tied for seventh place with 7 points (2-3-1). In their two previous games against Top 25 teams this season, the Texas A&M has won by a combined 7-0 margin – then-No. 9 Santa Clara (4-0) and then-No. 18 Kansas (3-0).
The Aggies have spent a majority of the 2018 campaign in an enviable position. Over the course of 1,370 minutes of play, Texas A&M has trailed for just 75:50. The Maroon & White have owned the lead for 822:39 and action has been tied for 471:31.
Texas A&M enjoy the luxury of having one of the most veteran goalkeepers in the nation minding the net. Morché ranks among the active leaders in shutouts (11th - 23), minutes played (11th - 6,211:50) and saves (16th - 302). She boasts a 1.06 career goals-against average, including a 0.68 mark in her two seasons at Texas A&M. Morché is 31-3-3 (.878) all-time as the Aggies' goalkeeper.
The Aggies are 6-0-0 all-time against Mississippi State, outscoring the Bulldogs, 21-2. Last year, Texas A&M claimed a 2-1 victory in Starkville. Courtney Robicheaux scored for the Bulldogs in the fifth minute. Emily Bates tied the match in the 21st minute, and Grace Piper scored the game-winner in the 66th minute.
Mississippi State is 9-3-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the SEC. With a victory, the Bulldogs would rack up 10 wins for the first time since 2001 and just the four time in program history. Zakirah McGillivary leads Mississippi State with 15 points on seven goals and one assist. MaKayla Waldner has chipped in 14 points on seven goals. Brooke McKee has contributed 10 points on three goals and four assists while Carly Mauldin and Niah Johnson both have nine points on four goals and one assist. Rylee DeCrane has racked up 1,186 minutes in goal, logging a 0.68 GAA, a .795 save percentage and seven shutouts.
PROMOTIONS
Teacher Appreciation Night:
- Two FREE tickets for active and retired local school administrators and teachers (in advance and on game day). Additional tickets are $3 each.
- Teachers are encouraged to arrive early before the match and enter to win a classroom visit from student-athletes at the marketing and promotions table.Senior Night: Pregame on-field recognition of the seniors with the Ross Volunteers.
Concessions Special: 50% off popcorn (all sizes)
Bring Your 'A' Game: Free admission to any kid who presents a report card with an A. Only available as a walk up sale on the day of the advent. No advance purchases.
Student Loyalty Scarfs: A&M students who attend & check-in to four matches during the season will receive a special edition Aggie Soccer Scarf.
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Players Mentioned
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