Mississippi State soccer releases full 2024 schedule

Following the best season in program history, Mississippi State will be back in action next month trying to reach the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year.

MSU released its full schedule Wednesday, starting with a home game against Baylor on Aug. 15. The Bulldogs then host Northwestern State on Aug. 18 before a two-game trip to North Carolina, featuring true road matches against Charlotte on Aug. 22 and Wake Forest on Aug. 25.

Head coach James Armstrong’s team returns home for two more non-conference matches against Tennessee Tech and South Alabama, and MSU rounds out non-conference play with a trip to Louisiana Tech on Sept. 5 and a home match against Abilene Christian on Sept. 12.

The Bulldogs will waste no time being introduced to the Southeastern Conference’s two newest members — they travel to Oklahoma for their SEC opener on Sept. 19, then host Texas three days later. Other conference home opponents are LSU (Sept. 29), Arkansas (Oct. 4), Missouri (Oct. 13) and Kentucky (Oct. 24). MSU’s other SEC road opponents are South Carolina (Sept. 26), Georgia (Oct. 10), Ole Miss (Oct. 18) and Texas A&M (Oct. 27).

The SEC Tournament returns to Pensacola, Florida from Nov. 3-10.

When the Bulldogs visit Oxford, they will aim to capture the Magnolia Cup for the fifth consecutive season. Ilana Izquierdo’s penalty kick goal and Maddy Anderson’s shutout gave MSU its fourth straight win over the rival Rebels last year.

The Bulldogs finished 12-6-5 overall in 2023, including a 5-3-2 mark in SEC play. MSU picked up key road wins late in the season over Florida, Kentucky and Alabama, and defeated Providence and Brown in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the round of 16 for the first time ever before falling to Stanford.

Anderson, among the most successful goalkeepers in program history, is back for her final year of eligibility this fall. The Bulldogs’ four best offensive players — Aitana Martinez-Montoya, Maggie Wadsworth, Izquierdo and Hannah Johnson — are all returning as well. 

2024 Mississippi State soccer schedule

Exhibition Matches

Aug. 3: at Kennesaw State – Kennesaw, Ga.

Aug 9: vs Louisiana-Monroe – Starkville 

Regular Season Home Opener

Aug. 15: vs Baylor – Starkville

Non-Conference Schedule

Aug. 18: vs Northwestern State – Starkville

Aug. 22: at UNC Charlotte – Charlotte, N.C.

Aug. 25: at Wake Forest – Winston-Salem, N.C.

Aug. 29: vs Tennessee Tech – Starkville

Sept. 1: vs South Alabama – Starkville

Sept. 5: at Louisiana Tech – Ruston, La.

Sept. 12: vs Abilene Christian – Starkville

SEC Schedule

Sept. 19: at Oklahoma (SEC Opener) – Norman, Okla.

Sept. 22: vs Texas (SEC Home Opener) – Starkville

Sept. 26: at South Carolina – Columbia, S.C.

Sept. 29: vs LSU – Starkville

Oct. 4: vs Arkansas – Starkville

Oct. 10: at Georgia – Athens, Ga.

Oct. 13: vs Missouri – Starkville

Oct. 18: at Ole Miss (Magnolia Cup) – Oxford, Miss.

Oct. 24: vs Kentucky – Starkville

Oct. 27: at Texas A&M – Bryan-College Station, Texas

MSU