“Extremely difficult.” These are the precise words that MSU women’s soccer head coach Neil McGuire used to describe the task that is expected of his players every weekend. This phrase refers to how the Lady Bulldogs play two games at highly competitive levels in the short span of 48 hours.
McGuire estimated that the average soccer game requires each player to run seven miles at “high speeds.” Thus, when the Sunday afternoon kick-off times roll around, the players’ physical conditions may not be fully recovered. McGuire, who is in his second season at MSU, credited the physical exhaustion with the ability to lead to occasional mental miscues.
“I always tell people if they want to see the pretty game, they should come on Friday,” McGuire said. “The Sunday game is a true test of character.”
In terms of preparing for two teams in one week, McGuire said that he and his staff look at the other teams and design practices that improve the quality of the team so that a high level of play will be executed, regardless of the opponent.
MSU (9-5, 2-2 SEC) comes into today’s action in second place in the SEC West, having outscored their opponents 35-19. Vanderbilt comes to Starkville this afternoon in what will be the first of four consecutive challenges with foes from the SEC East. The Lady Commodores (4-6, 2-3 SEC) are fifth in the SEC East but should be on an emotional high after handing Georgia its first conference loss on Sunday. Vandy has scored fifteen goals this season, while they have allowed seventeen. Many of their losses have been close games. In eight games where the final difference has been one goal, VU is 3-5. MSU has gone 2-3 in its contests separated by one goal.
The Kentucky Lady Wildcats (8-5, 2-3 SEC) have been up and down throughout the top-25 poll. However, the UK stock may be dropping, as they have lost three in a row. They will hit the field Sunday looking to avenge a double overtime loss at the hands of Tennessee on Sunday. They have posted a 4-3 record in one goal games.
Lack of experience may be a tough problem for the Lady Bulldogs to overcome, but it will not be an insurmountable one. The Lady Wildcats returned nine starters from last year’s squad that tallied a 15-6, 6-3 SEC mark. MSU, on the other hand, could start nine freshmen, as they did in last Sunday’s match with Alabama.
McGuire said that, like always, he would encourage his team to “be composed, intense and have a good defensive presence.”
He said he believes that good things will follow if those objectives are met. In both today’s and Sunday’s games, a good sign will come if the Lady Bulldogs can put one or two through the nets early. MSU is 8-1 when they have placed the first point of the game on the board, and they are 6-0 when leading at the half.
“I am extremely pleased with the way that all of the players are gaining experience,” McGuire said.
This pragmatic approach has worked so far this season. The Bulldogs can be seen today at 3 p.m. against the Commodores and Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Wildcats in what will be the final two SEC home games of the season.