New MSU soccer head coach Kevin O’Brien’s tenure began with the clock ticking on recruiting, with several Bulldog players already in the transfer portal and the window to bring them back or find new recruits only open through Dec. 17.

“If I’m being really honest, it made it tough because we were so late in terms of the turnover here that the lion’s share of the top players had already found homes,” O’Brien said. “So, yeah, it was difficult, but thankfully, we’ve got some good ones that we’re really excited about.”

The Bulldogs saw nine depart from the 2025 roster, all joining rival SEC programs led by former MSU coaches.

Kylie Snell and Kennedy Husbands both transferred to Auburn, joining a Tigers team led by James Armstrong, and seven Bulldogs followed Nick Zimmerman to Florida.

Regular starters Zoe Main, Kyra Taylor, Adia Symmonds and Hannah Jibril all became Gators as well as freshmen Ella Petersen, Charlotte Grim and Tatum Borman.

The Bulldogs welcomed several transfers to their 2026 class, which included five signees out of high school.

MSU brought in three experienced midfielders through the portal, adding Reese Black from Charlotte, Abbey Dalton from Michigan State and Mila Erceg from Ole Miss. MSU also added forward Hailey Johnson, who follows O’Brien from Lipscomb.

Johnson was the top goal scorer at Lipscomb last season with 10 goals, earning First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Region honors.

Joining Johnson on the forward line is Kyli Switalski, a veteran from Appalachian State with 25 career college starts, and defender Pearce Groer from Texas, who will help supplement the defensive unit.