NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb women's soccer team is set to kick off its season at home against Mississippi State on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. 
 
The Bisons enter the new season following a spring campaign in which they posted an overall record of 7-3-2  and a 6-0-2 mark in the ASUN. The Bisons return the bulk of their 2020-21 starters including four All-ASUN preseason selections as well as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Shelby Craft. In addition to their key returners, the Bisons also welcome new faces including VCU transfer, Kale'a Perry. 
 
"K.P. is someone that is going to be a handful for teams to deal with." said head coach Kevin O'Brien. "In just a couple weeks of training we have seen she can be a player that contributes big-time in terms of goals and assists"
 
Lipscomb has already had the opportunity to begin integrating the new additions to the squad by competing in two exhibition games. The team split the results by picking up a 2-0 win over South Alabama before falling to Belmont by a score of 1-0. 
 
"We learned a lot about ourselves and some areas where we needed to make some improvements. That's what this game and these first non-conference matches are all about. You're trying to fine-tune and improve yourself over time so when the conference season begins you are playing your best soccer possible." said O'Brien. 
 
Mississippi State begins their 2021 season behind a strong returning group of its own. Led by midfielder Onyi Echegini's eleven points, the Bulldogs posted a 6-4-3 record with a 2-3-3 mark in the SEC. 
 
In addition to Echegini's offensive prowess, the Bisons will have their hands full dealing with the 2020-21 SEC All-Freshmen selection Maddy Anderson at goalkeeper. Anderson started all but one match for the Bulldogs last season and finished with 44 saves on 129 shots to go with five wins. 
 
"They're always athletic. Most of the SEC teams we see are extremely athletic. The players they have are going to be very good." said O'Brien "To win our conference you have to win against top teams…These are the games where you learn the most."
 
The two teams have met just four times in total with the results split evenly; each team has recorded two wins. Most recently the teams clashed in Starkville, Miss. for an NCAA first round matchup in 2018. It was the Bisons who made history that day with a 1-0 upset win over the Bulldogs. The victory marked the first time Lipscomb advanced to the second round of an NCAA tournament.