Bulldogs Host Vanderbilt, No. 23 Tennessee To Open Home SEC Slate

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Official Game Notes

STARKVILLE, Miss. - There's no place like home. That has been true for the Mississippi State soccer team this season as it looks to continue a perfect home mark against Vanderbilt and No. 23 Tennessee.

Kickoff for Friday's match against the Commodores is set for 7 p.m., while Sunday's contest against the nationally-ranked Lady Vols is scheduled for a 1 p.m. opening whistle.

Admission to all MSU soccer matches is free. Fans unable to make it to the matches can watch the free video stream at www.hailstate.com/hstvlive.

Friday will be Resident Life Night at the pitch. In addition to Facebook Friday contests, there will be other giveaways to go along with appearances by Bully and the MSU cheerleaders.

Sunday will be another busy day of promotions. Five $20 gift cards to area restaurants will be given away, and the Bulldogs will conduct a free clinic for youth ages 12 and under after the match. At 4 p.m., the Bulldogs will sign autographs at L.A. Green Boutique, The Sundial Boutique, Harmonie Boutique and R. Tabb & Co.

Head coach Neil Macdonald's squad enters the weekend 7-1-1 following a league-opening 0-0 draw at South Carolina and a 3-0 setback, the team's first of the season, at Kentucky.

Sunday's loss halted Mississippi State's season-opening unbeaten streak at eight games, matching the 2009 team for the longest in school history.

Successfully defending the home pitch was a big reason  for the record-tying streak, as MSU swept the non-conference slate with a perfect 7-0-0 home record. 

Senior goalkeeper Skylar Rosson will look to continue her good form for the Bulldogs this season.  The MSU defense and Rosson have posted five-straight clean sheets on the MSU Soccer Field.

The Edmond, Okla., native pitched the team's sixth-straight shutout last weekend and the 12th of her career, a new Bulldog record.

After a scoreless start to the SEC campaign, the Bulldogs' offense looks to get back to form on a home turf where they have already scored 19 goals. 

Freshman Honeye Heydari and junior Elizabeth Sullivan lead the team with five goals each. Heydari, a Jackson, Tenn., native, has also compiled four assists, tying her with sophomore Dana Forbes, and junior Morganne Grimes for the most on the squad.

Vanderbilt is off to a 3-3-3 overall record, 0-0-1 league tally, with all three wins coming on the road.  The Commodores opened SEC play with road draws against Georgia and Tennessee.

The Commodores are led by freshman forward Cheyna Williams' four goals and four assists. The Hampton, Ga., native set up the equalizing goal in Vanderbilt's 1-1 draw with Tennessee last Sunday.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Levick has played in every game and has 34 saves for the season.  Levick was monumental in the Commodores' 0-0 tie with Georgia last Friday with 13 saves between the posts. 

Mississippi State will be vying for its second-straight win against the Commodores following a 2-1 win in Nashville last season on goals from Sullivan and Jasmine Simmons.