Seniors Lift State To Sixth Straight Magnolia Cup Victory

Thursday, October 2

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

9-1-1, 4-0-1

Ole Miss

4-5-1, 0-4-1

Ole Miss

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Seniors Lift State To Sixth Straight Magnolia Cup Victory

October 02, 2025 | Soccer

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By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Ally Perry and her classmates have never known a season where they didn't win the Magnolia Cup, and they never will.

A pair of seniors scored on Thursday night as No. 13 Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss, 2-0, in the annual in-state rivalry, claiming the Magnolia Cup for a sixth consecutive season and extending the longest winning streak by either side in the rivalry's history. It was the Bulldogs' third shutout in conference play and sixth of the year, and State (9-1-1, 4-0-1 SEC) has not allowed a goal to the Rebels (4-5-1, 0-4-1 SEC) since 2021.

"I'm glad it's over, and I'm really proud of the girls," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "We started the game really well, and then we had that lull where we lost our way a little bit. At halftime, the message was that this means something. So many of our players hadn't been a part of this, but I think they understood that you're going to get Ole Miss' very best."

The shutout was put to the test late in the first half. With two saves already under her belt, Sarah Wommack stopped a penalty kick in the 38th minute. She would not be required to make another save again as State held Ole Miss without a shot in the final 45 minutes. With the stop, Wommack became the first Bulldog keeper to save multiple penalties in a single season since Tanya de Souza in 2016.

The match remained scoreless for 77 minutes, but in the 78th, MSU created a scramble in the box off a free kick from near the corner flag. Naila Schoefberger got to the ball first, but her attempt was blocked. Kara Harris put the rebound off the left post, but it ricocheted back to Schoefberger who launched it into the upper 90 for her second goal of the season.

"Credit to the players that kept going and grinding," Zimmerman added. "We had 16 shots to their zero in the second half. I think we turned it up a notch, and I'm really proud of them."

Perry provided the insurance goal in the 82nd minute. Zoe Main curled a cross through the box around the penalty spot, and Perry settled it and fired from all alone on the left-hand side. The goal extended Perry's scoring streak to five games, matching the second-longest streak in program history. She has a goal in every SEC match, and now boasts 20 for her career, becoming just the sixth player in school history to tally 20 goals.

The pair of strikes gave MSU an SEC-leading 13 goals in the 70th minute or later, including six game-tying or game-winning goals. That amounts to 50 percent of the team's scoring. The Bulldogs have outscored conference opponents, 12-3, this season, and they have not allowed a goal to Ole Miss since 2021.

Mississippi State now turns its attention to Arkansas for what could be the defining match in the race for the conference crown. With the win and an Arkansas tie tonight, the Bulldogs moved into a tie with the No. 7 Razorbacks (6-2-3, 4-0-1 SEC) atop the conference standings prior to their head-to-head meeting on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT in Fayetteville with the game airing on SEC Network+.

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."