With three of the top SEC defensive units on display this weekend at the Mississippi State Soccer Field, goals may be difficult to come by.
After a 10-day layoff due to Hurricane Ivan, the No. 14 ranked Bulldogs (Soccer Buzz Central Rankings Poll) return to action tonight at 7 p.m. as they host No. 30 Tennessee (Soccer Buzz National Poll) in the opening game of the SEC schedule.
“I would rather have not had that break, but sometimes it works to your benefit,” head coach Neil MacDonald said. “I think we’ve had some good training sessions and we certainly should be prepared for them.”
The 2003 SEC Tournament champion Lady Vols currently sit in third place in the SEC Eastern Division with a 3-2-2 record.
Despite the mediocrity of their record, the Vols have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, including games with Southern Cal, Duke and a 0-0 draw against North Carolina.
“They’re a very athletic team and very quick at every position and also coming off the bench,” MacDonald said. “Our keys will be belief in the system that we play and that we work hard to challenge every loose ball.”
Tennessee’s strongest point is a defensive unit that has only given up seven goals this season, resulting in a 0.93 goals against average. Both rank second in the SEC.
Junior keeper Vanessa Phillips-Bosshart leads the SEC with 36 saves, giving her a save percentage of .837. She also ranks second in the conference with three shutouts.
“I think that we have the pace to get in behind them with Betty (Ann Casey), Allison (Mullen) and Brandi Parker,” MacDonald said. “So I think we need to be clinical in front of the goal when we get those chances.”
The Volunteer offense, however, is a totally different story. UT has only registered 10 goals this season (1.43 per game). State’s dominating defense should be able to contain the Volunteer offense and possibly create scoring chances for the Bulldog offense.
“This is a great opening weekend for us especially because we are playing Tennessee,” defender Morgan McDonald said. “Since I have been a freshman here we have beaten every team in the SEC except for Tennessee. So going out there in our senior year, I really wanna beat Tennessee.”
Tennessee leads the all-time series 5-1, and has won the two previous contests.
State’s final opponent of the weekend will be Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Georgia is 2-3-2 on the season and is currently in fourth place in the SEC Eastern Division.
Like Tennessee, Georgia boasts an impressive defense, but somewhat of a suspect offense. UGA has allowed only nine goals on the year, a goals against average of 1.29.
Georgia keeper Ashley Lindley’s save percentage of .810 ranks third in the SEC, just behind UT’s Phillips-Bosshart.
“Our ability to counter attack [may be the difference in the games],” MacDonald said. “That means that we have to play with high pressure and tempo when we have the ball at our feet.”
On the offensive side of the ball, Georgia has also only connected on 10 shots (1.43 per game). This ranks 10th in the conference.
“This is a big game for us,” Casey said. “Georgia is one of our top contenders.”
Georgia leads the all-time series with the Bulldogs 4-1, but State captured last year’s match with a 2-0 victory in Athens.