STARKVILLE — Mississippi State soccer set a new attendance record for the third time this season, welcoming 3,461 fans to the MSU Soccer Field for the 7-0 win against Southern University in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
The energy around the ground was palpable as fans filled in around the west end, the main stands and the hills next to them, including new bleachers in the east end next to the field house set up specially for the tournament.
“To see the line of people waiting to get in tonight gave us goosebumps,” head coach James Armstrong said in his post-game press conference. “When we heard how loud they were and how into the game they were, it was more than we could ever ask. But we will ask that they come back next Friday, that would be awesome as well.”
Saturday’s record attendance was the sixth consecutive top-10 crowd in program history, emphasizing the magnitude of this moment in MSU soccer. Games against Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and now Southern from this season occupy the top four spots in program attendance history, and there is a decent chance that record expands as the Bulldogs are guaranteed to host three more tournament games if they can keep winning.
A Friday date with Washington in the Round of 32 is now set for 6 p.m. Friday.
Goalscorers Rylie Combs and Aitana Martinez-Montoya both spoke after the match about the energy of the occasion and the real-time effect on the pitch. It didn’t just come from the crowd, for them it came from each other and their confidence in executing on the pitch.
“I think right now we’re just focused on playing,” Martinez-Montoya. “Of course, we love the crowd, but we’re focused on the game. What’s important for us is we have the crowd and we have each other’s back. I think being together, having each other’s back, respecting the opponent of course, and just helping each other was most important.”
The Bulldogs shut out their opponent for the 15th time this season on Saturday and didn’t allow a single shot against Maddy Anderson in goal. The defense did well to win possession quickly and even contribute to the attack, with both Combs and Price Loposer bagging goals. That kept them in the game, making challenges when needed and making passes to keep things moving up front.
“I feel the energy that they have,” Combs said, referring to the team’s almost seamless transition from defense to attack. “Getting into the box in the first few minutes, I had so much joy in that because they love doing that like I love defending. That brings me so much joy for them. I think that passing the ball, it’s something I take pride in because I’ve been working on it, and getting it to them to let them do their magic like they do, that’s probably the best thing.”
Combs, one of eight seniors or graduate players in the regular lineup, also reflected on the growth in support around the program as the team built to what it is now. Attendance and community support has grown with the team and it has not gone unnoticed.
“It’s honestly so amazing, especially from my freshman year when not so many people came to our games,” Combs said. “It’s just the growth over the years. For us as players, we take pride in the fans coming, watching us and supporting us. We want to bring in as many people as possible. (The fans) are a part of our circle. We say before the games, ‘Keep it in our circle,’ and our circle is everyone that supports us here, or watches it on TV. We take a lot of pride in who supports us, and we will support them right back. We’re very big on that.”
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