Friday, August 18
Starkville, MS
7:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
at
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Mississippi State
Ladyjacks Open 2017 Season With Pair of Road Matchups in Mississippi
8/17/2017 7:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Game to be televised on SEC+ Network
Match one at Mississippi State
Friday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes
2017 SFA Soccer Media Guide
Match two vs. Southern Miss
Sunday, August 20th at 12:00 p.m
Live Stats | Game Notes
2017 SFA Soccer Media Guide
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Any journey worth taking requires taking many steps. The Stephen F. Austin women's soccer team takes the first steps of its journey through the 2017 season this weekend, facing a pair of non-conference opponents in Mississippi to open the 2017 campaign. The Ladyjacks will first face SEC foe Mississippi State on Friday evening in Starkville, Mississippi, before a quick turnaround sees them take on Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on Sunday afternoon.
The looming season is brimming with potential for the Ladyjacks, who possess depth, talent and high soccer IQ throughout the roster. At the helm for a fifth season is Wally Crittenden, who has led SFA to the most wins of any coach in the program's history (54), and is already second in total winning percentage. Crittenden has high hopes for the season, as he looks to lead the team to a Southland Conference regular season and tournament championship.
The strength of the Ladyjacks is their offense, as it was a season ago, when the team ranked 11th nationally in scoring offense, and tallied 42 goals as a unit. Reigning Southland Conference Midfielder of the Year Hanna Barker returns for a senior campaign after a 30 point (10 goal, 10 assist) tally in 2016. Joining her is Breanna Moore, who scored nine goals as a sophomore forward last season. Altogether, the 'Jacks return more than 80% of the total offense from last season, and will look for contributions from both veterans and newcomers to pace the offense.
Defensively, the 'Jacks will bring a solid and formidable defensive group to bear against their foes this weekend. While yet untested by true game action in 2017, the defensive unit for SFA contains several veteran starters, capable newcomers and the added benefit of not one but two starting quality goalkeepers in Allyson Smith and Madeline Talbot. The talent and personnel is in line for the 'Jacks to reduce their total goals allowed from last season, however the extent to which it can be reduced is yet to be seen.
SFA'S first opponent of the 2017 season promises to be a stiff test. The Bulldogs of Mississippi State struggled in the 2016 campaign, tallying a 6-12 record overall while slipping to 1-10 in conference play. With the spring season came a coaching change, however, and new Bulldogs head coach Tom Anagost carries an impressive record of turning around struggling programs. Before joining the Bulldogs staff, Anagost turned around struggling Miami, and led Central Michigan University during a successful stint as well. His leadership will no doubt have the Bulldogs looking and playing much more formidable than their 2016 record would suggest.
"One of the single most important influences on a team can be the head coach", says SFA head coach Wally Crittenden. "Close behind that are the assistant coaches and other support staff, and then of course the players. Coach Anagost had great success at the University of Miami in what is a very difficult conference in the ACC, and from there I also look back at what he did at NC State while he was an assistant coach and see where that program went. Mississippi State did have a very challenging year last year, but I will tell you that it has been a work in progress and they've made some serious strides as of late."
The Bulldogs return several key players from the 2016 campaign, including leading scorer Mallory Eubanks (F), who tallied nine points for Mississippi State while appearing in every game. Makayla Waldner tallied a pair of goals and an assist as a forward for the team last year, while a pair of juniors in Carly Mauldin and Courtney Robicheaux started all 18 games last season and are back for the 2017 slate.
"We expect a very organized, inspired and athletic team in Mississippi State", said Crittenden. "We expect a disciplined team because that is a characteristic of their coach, being that he brings that same discipline and intensity to their training. I think that the skillset we will see from them is very similar to the skillset we have seen every year in our non-conference, I think it will be comparable to Rice in that they are a good team with good players, I also expect there to be very different playing styles and a different shape to their lineup versus ours. It should be a fantastic game, and could very well be one of the best opening matches in our region on Friday night."
Prior to this weekend's trip to Mississippi, the Ladyjacks wrapped up their pre-season with an exhibition against Rice in Houston, where the teams battled to a 1-1 draw. SFA began the 2016 season with an exhibition against Rice as well, as the Owls are a top program in the Conference USA and were a suitable tune-up for the Ladyjacks before Mississippi State.
"There was a reason we played Rice in our exhibition", Crittenden explains. "We didn't go try and find a team that we could drop six goals on that was picked to finish last in their conference as a mid-major, we chose Rice because we knew they could challenge us and test us and get us ready for Mississippi State. "
After facing Missisissipi State on Friday, the Ladyjacks travel to Hattiesburg to face Southern Miss, a squad that tallied its first winning season in 13 years during the 2016 campaign. The Golden Eagles finished 2016 with an 8-7-2 record, yet went just 2-6-2 in conference games and finished 11th in the C-USA. Senior midfielder Katie Richmond tallied a team-high 10 points last season, but the Golden Eagles also return two eight-point scorers in junior midfielder Stephanie Garcia and senior forward Becky McMulland.
"I'm expecting Southern Miss to be really energetic and excited about our game", said Crittenden. "I'm expecting them to come out with a lot of energy and emotion, because it's a way for them to make a statement early in the season. They faced another school in our league in an exhibition game and scored some goals, so they'll likely be confident heading into our match. Knowing their coach and the tactics that he uses to prepare, I'm expecting a creative and dynamic opponent in this match, especially with the game being played at their place."
Despite notching a winning season in 2016, the Golden Eagles did not receive the benefit of the doubt in their conference preseason poll, being picked to finish second to last yet again.
The preseason polls are graded one of two ways" explains Crittenden. "Either directly on your finish last season, or taking into account what teams lost and gained and making a pick that way. They are teams in our league that were overvalued in the poll based on who they lost and brought in, and there are teams in our league that were probably undervalued, based on what they brought in. Southern Miss may very well be one of those teams that might surprise some people based on their own conference ranking, and we're expecting a very well organized and talented Southern Miss team on Sunday."
Opening weekend games can be a difficult test for any number of reasons. Rustiness, lack of confidence and personnel changes can make the opening weekend of play an unpredictable event. For Crittenden and his staff, the confidence in his players and the talent level on this roster provides some measure of confidence, regardless of the opponent.
"We expect to compete in every position, we expect to compete skill-wise and we expect to compete athletically", Crittenden adds. "I think that I could say that about any team that we are playing."
Friday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes
2017 SFA Soccer Media Guide
Match two vs. Southern Miss
Sunday, August 20th at 12:00 p.m
Live Stats | Game Notes
2017 SFA Soccer Media Guide
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Any journey worth taking requires taking many steps. The Stephen F. Austin women's soccer team takes the first steps of its journey through the 2017 season this weekend, facing a pair of non-conference opponents in Mississippi to open the 2017 campaign. The Ladyjacks will first face SEC foe Mississippi State on Friday evening in Starkville, Mississippi, before a quick turnaround sees them take on Southern Miss in Hattiesburg on Sunday afternoon.
The looming season is brimming with potential for the Ladyjacks, who possess depth, talent and high soccer IQ throughout the roster. At the helm for a fifth season is Wally Crittenden, who has led SFA to the most wins of any coach in the program's history (54), and is already second in total winning percentage. Crittenden has high hopes for the season, as he looks to lead the team to a Southland Conference regular season and tournament championship.
The strength of the Ladyjacks is their offense, as it was a season ago, when the team ranked 11th nationally in scoring offense, and tallied 42 goals as a unit. Reigning Southland Conference Midfielder of the Year Hanna Barker returns for a senior campaign after a 30 point (10 goal, 10 assist) tally in 2016. Joining her is Breanna Moore, who scored nine goals as a sophomore forward last season. Altogether, the 'Jacks return more than 80% of the total offense from last season, and will look for contributions from both veterans and newcomers to pace the offense.
Defensively, the 'Jacks will bring a solid and formidable defensive group to bear against their foes this weekend. While yet untested by true game action in 2017, the defensive unit for SFA contains several veteran starters, capable newcomers and the added benefit of not one but two starting quality goalkeepers in Allyson Smith and Madeline Talbot. The talent and personnel is in line for the 'Jacks to reduce their total goals allowed from last season, however the extent to which it can be reduced is yet to be seen.
SFA'S first opponent of the 2017 season promises to be a stiff test. The Bulldogs of Mississippi State struggled in the 2016 campaign, tallying a 6-12 record overall while slipping to 1-10 in conference play. With the spring season came a coaching change, however, and new Bulldogs head coach Tom Anagost carries an impressive record of turning around struggling programs. Before joining the Bulldogs staff, Anagost turned around struggling Miami, and led Central Michigan University during a successful stint as well. His leadership will no doubt have the Bulldogs looking and playing much more formidable than their 2016 record would suggest.
"One of the single most important influences on a team can be the head coach", says SFA head coach Wally Crittenden. "Close behind that are the assistant coaches and other support staff, and then of course the players. Coach Anagost had great success at the University of Miami in what is a very difficult conference in the ACC, and from there I also look back at what he did at NC State while he was an assistant coach and see where that program went. Mississippi State did have a very challenging year last year, but I will tell you that it has been a work in progress and they've made some serious strides as of late."
The Bulldogs return several key players from the 2016 campaign, including leading scorer Mallory Eubanks (F), who tallied nine points for Mississippi State while appearing in every game. Makayla Waldner tallied a pair of goals and an assist as a forward for the team last year, while a pair of juniors in Carly Mauldin and Courtney Robicheaux started all 18 games last season and are back for the 2017 slate.
"We expect a very organized, inspired and athletic team in Mississippi State", said Crittenden. "We expect a disciplined team because that is a characteristic of their coach, being that he brings that same discipline and intensity to their training. I think that the skillset we will see from them is very similar to the skillset we have seen every year in our non-conference, I think it will be comparable to Rice in that they are a good team with good players, I also expect there to be very different playing styles and a different shape to their lineup versus ours. It should be a fantastic game, and could very well be one of the best opening matches in our region on Friday night."
Prior to this weekend's trip to Mississippi, the Ladyjacks wrapped up their pre-season with an exhibition against Rice in Houston, where the teams battled to a 1-1 draw. SFA began the 2016 season with an exhibition against Rice as well, as the Owls are a top program in the Conference USA and were a suitable tune-up for the Ladyjacks before Mississippi State.
"There was a reason we played Rice in our exhibition", Crittenden explains. "We didn't go try and find a team that we could drop six goals on that was picked to finish last in their conference as a mid-major, we chose Rice because we knew they could challenge us and test us and get us ready for Mississippi State. "
After facing Missisissipi State on Friday, the Ladyjacks travel to Hattiesburg to face Southern Miss, a squad that tallied its first winning season in 13 years during the 2016 campaign. The Golden Eagles finished 2016 with an 8-7-2 record, yet went just 2-6-2 in conference games and finished 11th in the C-USA. Senior midfielder Katie Richmond tallied a team-high 10 points last season, but the Golden Eagles also return two eight-point scorers in junior midfielder Stephanie Garcia and senior forward Becky McMulland.
"I'm expecting Southern Miss to be really energetic and excited about our game", said Crittenden. "I'm expecting them to come out with a lot of energy and emotion, because it's a way for them to make a statement early in the season. They faced another school in our league in an exhibition game and scored some goals, so they'll likely be confident heading into our match. Knowing their coach and the tactics that he uses to prepare, I'm expecting a creative and dynamic opponent in this match, especially with the game being played at their place."
Despite notching a winning season in 2016, the Golden Eagles did not receive the benefit of the doubt in their conference preseason poll, being picked to finish second to last yet again.
The preseason polls are graded one of two ways" explains Crittenden. "Either directly on your finish last season, or taking into account what teams lost and gained and making a pick that way. They are teams in our league that were overvalued in the poll based on who they lost and brought in, and there are teams in our league that were probably undervalued, based on what they brought in. Southern Miss may very well be one of those teams that might surprise some people based on their own conference ranking, and we're expecting a very well organized and talented Southern Miss team on Sunday."
Opening weekend games can be a difficult test for any number of reasons. Rustiness, lack of confidence and personnel changes can make the opening weekend of play an unpredictable event. For Crittenden and his staff, the confidence in his players and the talent level on this roster provides some measure of confidence, regardless of the opponent.
"We expect to compete in every position, we expect to compete skill-wise and we expect to compete athletically", Crittenden adds. "I think that I could say that about any team that we are playing."
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Players Mentioned
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GK
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GK
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