Soccer Preview and Game Thread: Mississippi State

Vanderbilt gave itself an enormous enhance of their chase for the SEC East crown by drubbing Florida 5-2 in Gainesville. The win means Vanderbilt controls their future within the East. Tennessee has one fewer level within the standings than Vanderbilt however has a match in hand, which they’re at the moment taking part in in opposition to South Carolina in Knoxville. That match is on SEC Community. Vanderbilt appears to be discovering its approach as this season winds down after a pair wakeup calls in opposition to Georgia and Arkansas.

Scoring extra objectives than your opponent makes an attempt photographs is an effective method to win a recreation. It’s possible you’ll discover that the Gators have one fewer shot on purpose than objectives scored. Florida was the beneficiary of an personal purpose when Addie Porter had a nook hit her face and shoulder earlier than glancing off the far publish and throughout the purpose line. It was an aerial scrum, and an attacker mistimed a header whereas screening Porter from seeing the ball. The opposite Gator purpose was additionally from a nook the place Kate Devine was too preoccupied with one attacker and misjudged her punch on the nook which allowed a remarkably unmarked attacker to attain on a header.

Vanderbilt managed play as they need to in opposition to a workforce with out a win in convention play. That they had the ball within the attacking half for over 28 minutes. Much more impressively, 14 minutes of Vanderbilt’s possession have been inside 30 yards of the Gator purpose. Conversely, Florida was on the ball within the attacking half for 18 minutes and inside taking pictures distance for a tick over 8 minutes. Clearly, Vanderbilt was discovering much more house to take a crack on purpose based mostly on the 14-4 benefit in shot makes an attempt. The Dores additionally stayed disciplined sufficient to not be caught offside any, which has been a difficulty at occasions.

Vanderbilt bought scoring from their greatest gamers. Raegan Kelley confirmed her full ability with a pair of objectives in solely 68 minutes. Fellow attacking midfielder Amber Nguyen had a purpose and an help. Abi Brighton bagged her second of the season. In fact, Peyton Cutshall’s purpose bought the scoring began, and he or she performed her function almost to perfection as a goal striker.

A part of the offside avoidance was tactical. The Commodores will not be taking part in the ball in behind as a lot. Passes are going into Cutshall’s ft together with Kelley, Kerr, Nguyen, and the opposite attacking choices. Then these gamers put their plentiful ability and creativity to make use of. It has labored to interrupt down the rock stable South Carolina protection and now to tear aside Florida.

Vanderbilt’s opponent this afternoon is Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 10-3-3 (4-3-1) on the season. Moo State had a equally weak non-conference slate to Vanderbilt. They allowed solely 2 objectives and scored 14. In opposition to SEC competitors, Mississippi State has scored and conceded 8 occasions every.

Probably the most threatening attackers are Haley McWhirter and Maggie Wadsworth. Each of them have 3 objectives and 1 help in convention play. Previous to SEC play, Wadsworth had 4 objectives and a couple of assists whereas McWhirter had 3 objectives and three assists. The one different particular person with an SEC purpose is Gwen Mummert. The opposite purpose was credited to the “TEAM,” so it was in all probability an personal purpose by the opposition. Alivia Buxton did have 2 objectives and an help in opposition to nonconference foes, however she solely has 2 assists since then.

Mississippi State could have a difficulty in purpose as their All-Time chief in Profession Shutouts Maddy Anderson has missed exited with harm in opposition to South Carolina on October 6^th and has not performed within the 3 matches since then. Substitute Mac Titus has been okay in her place, however she has confronted some staggering offenses in South Carolina, Auburn, and Ole Miss. Alabama managed to get 4 objectives by her on 7 makes an attempt, however the Crimson Tide are excellent in assault. Vanderbilt ought to actually look to check the Sophomore who solely has 358 minutes on the faculty degree after not taking part in in any respect final season. She has allowed 6 objectives from 17 photographs on purpose however did clean Ole Miss.

As I discussed earlier, the SEC East is on the road for the Dores, however right now’s match is not going to change that race since solely division matches rely for the division title. Nonetheless, if the end in Knoxville holds, South Carolina will leap right into a tie with Tennessee one level behind Vanderbilt. All 3 groups can have one division match left. The Commodores and Volunteers go face to face in Knoxville whereas the Woman Cocks will host a woeful Missouri squad.

The seeding for the SEC Match at kickoff right now ought to have Alabama because the #1 having clinched the West and with an ideal 8-0-0 convention file. Vanderbilt would be the #2 as leaders of the SEC East. Nonetheless, if they can not seize the East, Vanderbilt will fall down the seeding a bit. The seeding 3 by way of 10, because it stands, could be Tennessee (19 factors), Arkansas (16 with 1 recreation in hand), South Carolina (16), Georgia (16), Mississippi State (13 and 1 in hand), LSU (12 and 1 in hand), Ole Miss (9 and 1 in hand), and a tie for 10^th between Missouri and Texas A&M (8 and 1 in hand). Auburn is simply on the surface with 7 factors and 1 recreation in hand.

This afternoon’s Senior Day recreation will kickoff simply after 3 PM CT. SEC Community has the TV broadcast, and there’s the ever-available streaming choice on WatchESPN/ESPN+. The Plex may even have some further furry followers as right now is Pups on the Plex, however you needed to register the pets prematurely.