CLINTON, Miss. — The Lady Choctaws are back at Robert P. Longabaugh Field Wednesday afternoon for a matchup that has all the makings of an early-season battle.
Mississippi Christian hosts Valdosta State at 1 p.m. CT in a Gulf South Conference showdown between two teams coming off strong starts to the season.
The Lady Choctaws enter Wednesday at 3-1-1 overall and 0-0-1 in GSC play, while Valdosta State is 2-1-1 and 1-0 in the conference.
MC has already shown it can win in different ways. The Lady Choctaws opened the season with a 1-0 win over Emmanuel before facing one of the toughest tests on the schedule against Dallas Baptist. MC bounced back with a 1-0 win at Oklahoma Christian and then played Union to a 2-2 draw in its conference opener.
Now, the Lady Choctaws get their first GSC home match of the season.
The Matchup
Valdosta State brings one of the conference's more dangerous offenses into Clinton. The Blazers have scored 10 goals in four matches, averaging 2.5 goals per game, and have put 38 shots on goal.
Sarah Hudson has been the early standout, leading VSU with three goals and two assists. Anna Dandeneau and Kyndal Smith have added two goals apiece, while Kayleigh Kearns has a goal and two assists.
The Blazers also have plenty of players capable of creating chances. Kaitlyn Scherer leads the team with three assists, while Hudson and Kearns have combined for 26 shots.
MC has taken a different approach early in the season. The Lady Choctaws have scored two goals in their last two matches and have held opponents scoreless twice this season.
Jaylen Bodry has been one of MC's biggest offensive threats, leading the team with nine shots and six shots on goal. Kerri O'Hara and Lillie McCutchen have each scored a goal, while Brynn Hedberg has been strong in goal with 15 saves and a .750 save percentage.
And then there's Faith Clark.
The junior defender was named the GSC Defensive Player of the Week last week, becoming MC's first GSC Player of the Week honoree of the season. Clark has played 210 minutes through the first three matches and was part of the defensive effort behind MC's two shutouts.
Something has to give
Valdosta State likes to attack. MC has shown it can make opponents work for every goal.
The Blazers are averaging more than 16 shots per match, while the Lady Choctaws have allowed just 14.3 shots per game. On the other side, MC has shown it can create pressure of its own, including a 21-shot performance in the season-opening win over Emmanuel.
That makes Wednesday's matchup pretty simple: Can MC's defense slow down a Valdosta State attack that has been scoring early and often, while the Lady Choctaws find enough chances of their own?
With both teams sitting above .500 and conference points already on the line, Wednesday's matchup could be an early measuring stick for both sides.
Match Details:
Opponent: Valdosta State
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Robert P. Longabaugh Field | Clinton, Miss.
Conference: Gulf South Conference
