It Just Means More

STARKVILLE – No sound is sweeter than many members of the Bulldog faithful erupting in a crescendo of clang moments before Mississippi State strikes a ball into the back of the net.

As 14 minutes passed in the first half of Mississippi State's Southeastern Conference home opener against the undefeated Texas Longhorns, redshirt junior Ally Perry blazed a trail down the pitch as the cowbells vibrantly rang in anticipation of the first point of the match.

When Perry netted her fourth goal of the season to secure a 1-0 lead over her home state's Longhorns, the sea of Maroon and White at the MSU Soccer Field went wild.

"I knew going into this week that she was a little extra motivated, not that she needed any extra motivation," head coach James Armstrong said. "Tonight was about controlling her emotions, and I think she showed a great deal of maturity. She was levelheaded [and] the player we know and love. [She] took players on, took shots, created chances and obviously scores an unbelievable goal, which at the end of the day, was the deciding factor."

Hailing from Waco, Texas, Perry's determination to leave it all on the pitch for the Maroon and White kit led to State's eighth win in the 2024 campaign. The victory over the undefeated Longhorns garnered three additional points for the Bulldogs, bringing the program's point total to six and placing them tied for first in the SEC with Arkansas and South Carolina.

The delight that spread across the faces of the players and coaches as they ran to celebrate and embrace their loved ones was worth the countless hours of hard work and dedication put in by those who have helped build a foundation of success for MSU's soccer program.

But for Perry, this victory over Texas was much sweeter.

"This game was very important to me," Perry said. "I'm from Texas so I've had a big mark [on the calendar] for this big game. It just means more to me, but this week was a great week. Starting off SEC [play] with six points with away and home wins over the new SEC members, it was the best way we could have started SEC [play]. I'm very thankful and proud of our team for all the effort we've put into this."

Although Perry did not start playing high school soccer until her senior year, the speedy midfielder is no stranger to winning championships. She racked up a multitude of club championships during her time on the pitch for Sting Soccer Club, which led to Perry receiving an invitation to participate in the United States Girls National Training Camp in 2017 and 2018.

In 2021, Perry arrived on MSU's campus with one goal in mind. That aspiration was to leave a long-lasting impression that will be etched into the history of the program for years to come.

Her abilities on the pitch and her determination to get better every day are just a couple of supporting personality traits that make Perry one of State's most fierce leaders.

"She shows [her leadership] through her actions and what she does on the field," graduate goalkeeper Maddy Anderson said. "To see her grow each year is fantastic. She's playing lights out right now. She's getting around players, she's playing great balls and she's finishing, which we really need. I'm super proud of her and how much she's grown over the last couple of years."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Maddy Anderson

Ally Perry

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