Bulldogs Journey To Birmingham For First Street Journey Of The Season

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State will journey for the primary time within the Kevin O’Brien Era on Sunday when the Bulldogs tackle UAB in Birmingham, Alabama. Kickoff is about for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

Despite the proximity of the campuses, will probably be the primary time the 2 applications have met in 16 years. Due to the prolonged drought, State has not claimed a victory in opposition to the Blazers because the late Nineteen Nineties.

The Bulldogs (1-0-0) are coming off a 3-0 victory in head coach Kevin O’Brien‘s debut. State recorded 26 photographs, together with 12 on course, whereas holding the Jaguars to simply 4 photographs. All three objectives have been scored by newcomers, and the primary got here simply 5 minutes into the match off the boot of freshman Kati Anne Shepherd in her collegiate debut.

MSU’s protection has not allowed a shot on objective but this season. Meanwhile, UAB is coming off a 4-2 victory in opposition to Georgia State that noticed the Blazers concede on a penalty kick and get the good thing about a Panthers personal objective.

Head Man’s History: Head coach Kevin O’Brien claimed his first victory as a Bulldog on Thursday. In his 30-year teaching profession, 25 groups he has been a part of have posted a successful report.
 
How Old Is She?: Freshman Kati Anne Shepherd ought to be a senior in highschool this fall after reclassifying to hitch this system early. At simply 17 years and 74 days outdated, she scored MSU’s first objective of 2026 within the first 5 minutes after beginning her collegiate debut.
 
Dawg Defense: Under goalkeepers coach Kat Stratton, MSU has held opponents to fewer than 10.0 photographs per sport in 4 straight seasons. Last trip, State turned the primary staff to carry South Alabama with out a shot on objective since MSU did so itself on September 1, 2022, in a scoreless draw.
 
Shot Selection: State registered 26 photographs in opposition to South Alabama, with Kati Anne Shepherd and Hailey Johnson recording 5 photographs every. 
 
Top-10 Takedowns: Mississippi State claimed three top-10 wins final 12 months, which was as many as this system had in its complete historical past previous to 2025.
 
 

Rankings: United Soccer Coaches – NR | TopDrawerSoccer – NR
Head Coach: Lisa Mann | Record at UAB: 21-18-16 (4th Year) | Career Record: 61-33-20 (eighth Year)
 

Overall: 2-4-0 | Current Streak: Lost 4 | Home: 1-2-0 | Away: 1-2-0 | Neutral: 0-0-0 | Last Meeting: Aug. 27, 2010, UAB, 3-0
 

UAB enters the matchup following a 4-2 victory over Georgia State in its season opener. The Blazers recorded 18 photographs, putting 5 on course, whereas a dozen of these efforts got here within the second half alone. Goalkeeper Leah Persons made 4 saves. UAB returns 19 gamers from final season, together with seven starters, and brings again its prime three objective scorers from a 12 months in the past. Lailah Stewart, Avery Berryman and Ava Mills have been all chosen to the American Conference Preseason Watchlist after incomes All-Conference honors final season.
 
 

The Bulldogs return house to kick off a six-match homestand that can span the following three weeks. MSU hosts Arkansas State at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 with the match airing on SEC Network+.
 
 

For extra info on the Bulldog soccer program, observe on X, Facebook and Instagram by looking “HailStateSOC.”