Mississippi State
6-1-0, 0-0-0
Abilene Christian
2-1-4, 0-0-0
State Closes Out Nonconference Play With 5-0 Victory Over Abilene Christian
September 12, 2024 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State soccer (6-1-0) put on a dominant display Thursday night, defeating Abilene Christian (2-1-4) 5-0 at the MSU Soccer Field to close out nonconference play. The Dawgs overwhelmed the Wildcats on both sides of the ball, recording their sixth shutout of the season while showcasing an electric attack that saw five different players find the back of the net.
State controlled the pace from the opening whistle, finishing the match with a 22-6 advantage in shots, including 11 on target, compared to just three on goal for Abilene Christian.
Rylie Combs opened the scoring for the Bulldogs in the 24th minute, netting her first goal of the season and second of her career off a well-placed assist from Zoe Main. The combination play between the Bulldogs was fluid, as just six minutes later, Ally Perry found the back of the net to double State's lead. Kennedy Husbands and Ilana Izquierdo orchestrated the buildup, connecting passes in the final third before Perry slotted it home.
Heading into halftime with a 2-0 lead, MSU wasted zero time getting things rolling in the second half. Perry struck again less than three minutes after the restart, completing her first multi-goal performance of the season with another assist from Main.
Not to be outdone, Aitana Martinez-Montoya added her third goal of the season in the 54th minute with a sharp strike from just inside the box. Martinez-Montoya has now scored in three of the Bulldogs' last four matches, continuing her impactful form as a consistent offensive threat.
State sealed the victory in the 82nd minute when freshman McKinnan Braswell scored her first collegiate goal. Freshmen Sierra Bergen and Ines Simas provided the assists, as the depth of Mississippi State's roster was on full display, with multiple players contributing to the scoring and buildup play throughout the match.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were organized and resilient, limiting Abilene Christian's chances. Goalkeepers Maddy Anderson and Katelyn Carroll secured the shutout, making three saves. Anderson, who ranks among the SEC's all-time leaders in shutouts, marshaled a backline that has allowed just two goals across the nonconference portion.
State also dominated set-piece opportunities, earning seven corner kicks to Abilene Christian's one, further highlighting their territorial control of the match.
The win improves Mississippi State's record to 6-1-0 as they head into SEC play. Up next, the Bulldogs will travel to Norman to face new conference foe Oklahoma Sept.19.
Quoting Head Coach James Armstrong
On Sunday's Match
JA: "We are focusing on getting better each day. Sometimes it is competition days, sometimes it is looking at the details at what we need to improve on. We will start to look at what we need to do [in preparation] after tonight on both sides of the ball to be ready to go to Oklahoma to open SEC play."
Quoting Midfielder Ally Perry
On The Offensive Side
AP: "I am happy that we had multiple goal scorers today off the bench. We are finally getting the chances and making them count. I think this game was a great way to close out nonconference before starting SEC play. I am just so proud of everyone."
Match Summary
Scoring:
- 23:01 – STATE: Rylie Combs (Assist: Zoe Main)
Combs scores her first goal of the season with a clinical finish off a pass from Main. - 29:15 – STATE: Ally Perry (Assist: Kennedy Husbands, Ilana Izquierdo)
Perry doubles the lead, finishing off a sequence set up by Husbands and Izquierdo. - 47:28 – STATE: Ally Perry (Assist: Zoe Main)
Perry nets her second of the night early in the second half, courtesy of another assist from Main. - 53:42 – STATE: Aitana Martinez-Montoya (Unassisted)
Martinez-Montoya makes it 4-0 with a powerful strike, her third goal of the season. - 81:04 – STATE: McKinnan Braswell (Assist: Sierra Bergen, Ines Simas)
Braswell caps off the scoring, registering her first collegiate goal after contributions from Bergen and Simas.
Team Statistics:
- Shots: STATE 22 (11 on goal), ACU 6 (3 on goal)
- Saves: STATE 3, ACU 6
- Corner Kicks: STATE 7, ACU 1
- Fouls: STATE 8, ACU 7
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on X, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSoc."
– HailState.com –
Team Stats
Rylie Combs (1)
Assisted By: Zoe Main
GOAL by MSST Combs, Rylie Assist by Main, Zoe.
23:01
Ally Perry (3)
Assisted By: Kennedy Husbands , Ilana Izquierdo
GOAL by MSST Perry, Ally Assist by Husbands, Kennedy and Izquierdo, Ilana.
29:15
Ally Perry (3)
Assisted By: Zoe Main
GOAL by MSST Perry, Ally Assist by Main, Zoe.
47:28
Aitana Martinez-Montoya (3)
GOAL by MSST Martinez-Montoya, Aitana.
53:42
McKinnan Braswell (1)
Assisted By: Sierra Bergen , Ines Simas
GOAL by MSST Braswell, McKinnan Assist by Bergen, Sierra and Simas, Ines.
81:04
