STARKVILLE, Miss. – Coming off a much-needed weekend of rest, Auburn soccer (6-4-2, 3-1-0 SEC) is back on the road to take on Mississippi State (6-5-1, 1-2-1 SEC) Thursday. Kickoff in Starkville, Mississippi, is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT
The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and is available on the Watch ESPN app.
Starting XI
Auburn is 3-1-0 or better in SEC play for the sixth time in program history and the third time in the last five seasons.
The Tigers have turned in six shutouts this season, including three shutouts in the last four contests. The team has turned in 15 shutouts in 32 matches dating back to the beginning of last season.
Goalkeeper Kate Hart would move into a tie for seventh in Auburn's single-season history with another shutout. Hart was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for her performance against LSU last Thursday.
Midfielder Kori Locksley has scored the first two goals of her Auburn career in the last three contests. She was named Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week honorable mention earlier this week.
Defender Alyssa Malonson scored the first goal of her career at the 30:00 mark vs. LSU, and it proved to be the game-winner. Malonson and fellow defender Sarah Houchin have played and started in all 52 matches in their Auburn careers.
Auburn is 17-4-2 in the all-time series against Mississippi State and holds a 5-4-1 advantage in matches played in Starkville.
The Tigers have earned six straight results against the Bulldogs dating back to 2012 and 15 results in the last 16 meetings dating back to 2002.
Auburn hasn't allowed a goal in series in the last six contests. The Bulldogs last goal in the series came in the 47th minute on Oct. 2, 2011 in Starkville, a span of 603 minutes.
Scouting Mississippi State
Mississippi State, led by first year head coach and former Auburn assistant James Armstrong, enters Thursday with a 6-5-1 overall record and 1-2-1 mark in SEC play.
Senior forward MaKayla Waldner leads the team and ranks tied for sixth in the conference with six goals while sophomore forward Monigo Karlney is on her heels with nine points on three goals and three assists.
Graduate student Gabby English has played and started in goal in 11 of the Bulldogs 12 contests and has helped lead the team to four shutouts.
Player to Watch: Kate Hart
Hart was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Tigers to the team's sixth shutout of the season, including its third in the last four contests, vs. LSU. Hart made a pair of saves in one-on-one situations to preserve a second-half lead. She dove to her left and deflected a shot wide of the far post in the 55th minute before squaring up a striker near the penalty kick spot in the 65th minute.