TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Prior to the Bulldogs’ Oct. 15 win against a ranked and unbeaten Kentucky team, Mississippi State had just one other win against a ranked opponent on the road in program history.
One week later, the Bulldogs now have three ranked road wins, pulling off a 2-0 victory over No. 16 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, snapping a 28-match home unbeaten streak for the Crimson Tide.
With back-to-back ranked road wins, six-straight Southeastern Conference matches unbeaten and four wins in five matches overall, Mississippi State (10-3-4, 5-2-2 SEC) has been on an incredible run of form in recent weeks, and that continued against the Crimson Tide.
The match remained scoreless into the second half, where the Bulldogs netted both goals, starting with Aitana Martinez-Montoya’s fifth goal of the season in the 62nd minute.
Maggie Wadsworth added the dagger 10 minutes later, her fourth goal of the season, to double the score. The Bulldogs now find themselves atop the SEC West standings.
Sunday’s result has firmly put Mississippi State in third place in the overall conference standings, but in the SEC Tournament, the top two seeds are awarded to both division winners.
That now makes Thursday’s regular season finale against No. 9 Arkansas all the more important. The Bulldogs currently have nine points against divisional opponents, one less than Razorbacks.
A win on Thursday secures MSU’s first division title in program history. A loss or draw means means the Bulldogs’ seeding in the SEC Tournament will hinge on the results of those near the top, most notably Texas A&M and Georgia.
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