Alabama Soccer to Host Mississippi State Friday Night

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama soccer team will face its next SEC opponent, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Stadium. The match will be broadcasted live on SEC Network + and admission will be free. Disney Pixar's Coco will be shown after the game in-stadium.

About Alabama

The Tide has a current record of 6-4-1, 1-2-0 against SEC opponents.
Entering Week 6, Alabama has received votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the first time this season.
Junior forward Casey Wertz leads the team with 11 points (4g-3a). Wertz concluded the 2018 season as the team's top scorer with 16 points (8g).
Wertz also heads the squad in shots taken, 32, followed by freshman Carlee Giammona with 30.
Through 11 matches this season, Alabama has seen 11 different players score a goal.
All of Alabama's losses this year have come to ranked opponents.
- No. 23 – Virginia Tech, No. 16 – Arkansas, No. 8 – South Carolina

Scouting Mississippi State

Sunday's match-up marks the 24th meeting in series history between the Tide and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
- Alabama leads the all-time series 12-8-3.
- The last meeting on Oct. 6, 2018 ended in a 2-5 loss in Starkville, Miss.
Mississippi State has a current record of 6-4-1, with a 1-1-1 SEC conference mark.
- They are coming off a 2-1 win against Kentucky.
The Bulldogs ended its 2018 campaign with a 9-7-2 overall record, 2-6-2 in the SEC. Their season concluded in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 loss in double overtime to Lipscomb.
- This was the first ever NCAA Tournament appearance for the program.
The team did not qualify for the 2018 SEC Tournament. They have only seen the SEC Tournament twice in program history, 2001 and 2004.
Head coach James Armstrong leads the Bulldogs for his first season. Armstrong comes to Mississippi State after a five-year stint with Auburn as an assistant coach, and later associate head coach.
The team was picked to finish 11th in the SEC according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Last Time Out: The Tide Defeats Tennessee in Double Overtime, 2-1

Freshman Serena Pham – 70^th minute, successful penalty goal, also her first career goal
Tennessee's Alicia Donley tied it up in the 73^rd minute (1-1)
Senior Nealy Martin – 104^th minute, scored the 2OT game winner with a header inside the box (2-1)
Alabama outshot the Vols, 29-11, with 12 being on target. Mattingly led the team firing six shots, followed by junior Casey Wertz with five.

Crooks Earns TopDrawer Soccer Weekly Honors

Freshman goalkeeper A.J. Crooks was named goalkeeper in TopDrawer Soccer's Week 6 Team of the Week.
Her role was essential in the Tide's 2-1 overtime win against Tennessee earning her a spot on this select team. Appearing in just her third college game and her first against an SEC opponent, Crooks made three saves and earned her second win of the season.
She is accompanied by just one other SEC athlete, Jyllissa Harris of South Carolina.

Up Next

The Crimson Tide will travel to College Station, Texas to take on the Texas A&M Aggies Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Ellis Field. Alabama will later host LSU Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. CT.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaSoccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. General athletic news can be found at @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and @AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.