Wadsworth’s goal in OT sends MS State to second round

STARKVILLE – A little over three months ago, the Mississippi State soccer team was gathered together in its clubhouse and looking ahead at the season to come.

There was understandable excitement. There was a determination. And according to head coach James Armstong, there was an unmistakable confidence.

“There’s the old cliché, ‘Why not us?’ Armstrong explained. “But the belief in the room was different.”

Fast-forward to Saturday at the MSU Soccer Field and the same belief that was evident back in August continues to be rewarded.

State topped Providence College 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Maggie Wadsworth’s overtime goal was the difference as the Bulldogs won a postseason game on their home field for the second year in a row.

It was the latest chapter for a program that continues to elevate, and that elevation is apparent – not just because of numbers or records or expectations – but because of the belief that keeps growing within the group seemingly every passing day.

“I think we’ve just built a foundation every year and each year, we keep building on it and having more and more belief,” goalkeeper Maddy Anderson said. “Why not us? Why can’t we do [big things at Mississippi State]? Mississippi State can be a top team. I think the belief has just been built every year and each year we keep having more and more success. Last year, we had so many firsts and lots of history made. Then this year, we just get to build upon it and make even more history.”

Indeed, this is another historic unit, even before Saturday’s triumph. The Bulldogs had already put together the first back-to-back, 10-plus-win seasons since 1996 and 1997. They’d achieved their highest-ever ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll at 18th. It all led to a program-best No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Armstrong, his staff and his players just keep blazing new trails in Starkville and building more and more belief. It’s overflowed to the stands and the community. That was evident once again on Saturday – even to the players from Providence.

“We knew this was going to be a big crowd here with lots of energy,” Avery Snead of the Friars said. “We’d heard about the cowbells coming in…Every once in a while [in the game], you’d hear the crowd and you’d look and be like, ‘Wow.'”

Other coaches have taken notice, too.

“[Mississippi State] doesn’t get enough credit,” Providence head coach Sam Lopes said. “They’ve done an awesome job. What they’ve built here with the energy, you can feel it. You can sense it…From a coach to a coach, there’s an enormous amount of respect for what [Armstrong] has done and what he continues to do and he’s only going to continue to do great things.”

Now, after Saturday’s result, the Bulldogs have the opportunity to keep making waves this season. That’s not to even mention what’s possible in the years to come.

And don’t for a second doubt them either, because they sure don’t doubt themselves. From the top down, the Bulldogs have put in the work and earned the right to know they’re capable of making dreams come true.

They truly believe anything is possible, and that belief just keeps getting stronger with time.

“I’m really proud of the mentality of the players,” Armstrong said. “As a coaching staff, we’ve always felt that way. You’ve got to build it step by step. But the players kind of came in this season as well and said, ‘We’re tired of that underdog tag we’ve been labeled with for a few years now.’

“The fact the players believe that, that’s the thing I’m most proud of. Coaches can say it all they want. When the players say, ‘Hey, we’re good. We want to do something special here.’ That’s when special things can happen.”