PALO ALTO, Calif. – No. 6 Mississippi State (12-5-5) will face off against the host school and No. 2 Stanford Cardinal (17-0-4) on Sunday for an opportunity to place themselves in the Elite 8 of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament.
No. 6 Mississippi State made history once again on Friday evening when they secured their spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs faced off against No. 3 Brown in Palo Alto, California in a matchup that demonstrated the Dawg’s resilience and determination as they ultimately defeated Brown 2-1 in a thrilling match.
Last time out for the Bulldogs, the first half was characterized by tough and physical play from both sides. Neither team managed to break the deadlock, leaving the score level at 0-0 after 45 minutes. The second half saw a remarkable defensive effort from the Bulldogs, who successfully blocked and saved four shots in a row from Brown. However, the Bears struck first with a goal from Naya Cardoza.
Undeterred, Mississippi State rallied in the 69th minute when Ilana Izquierdo played a crucial ball to Kennedy White, who found the back of the net for her second goal of the season, leveling the score at 1-1. Just seven minutes later, in the 77th minute, Taylor James, in her 27th game, scored her first career goal, securing a 2-1 victory and propelling the Soccer Dawgs into the Sweet 16.
Stanford, the No. 2 overall seed, advanced to the Sweet 16 with a convincing 3-0 victory over No. 16 South Carolina in the second round. Andrea Kitahata scored two goals, and Maya Doms added her third career postseason tally. The Cardinal’s defense, led by Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year Ryan Campbell, proved to be stingy, allowing only three shots from the Gamecocks.
The winner of the Stanford-Mississippi State match will progress to the quarterfinal round and face the winner of No. 5 seed Nebraska vs. UC Irvine. If Stanford advances, they will have the opportunity to host the quarterfinal match next week.
Stanford, making its 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance, has an impressive 67-23-8 record in tournament play. With two College Cup victories in the last six years, including the 2019 national championship, Stanford boasts a rich soccer tradition. The Cardinal’s postseason success includes 14 consecutive wins at home, dating back to 2016.
Mississippi State’s…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Mississippi State…