Saturday, November 15
Starkville
5 p.m.
Mississippi State
12-7-1, 5-4-1
0
vs
1
Lipscomb
15-5-2, 7-2-1
1
2
F
Lipscomb
1
0
1
Mississippi St.
0
0
0
State’s Season Ends In First Round Of NCAA Tournament
November 15, 2025 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State saw its season come to a close in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night with a 1-0 loss to Lipscomb in front of its home crowd.
In a defensive battle, the Bisons (15-5-2) found the match's only goal on a breakaway chance midway through the first half. From then on Lipscomb was content to defend as State poured on 18 shots while earning 11 total corners. The Bulldogs possessed the ball for 72 percent of the game, but could never find an equalizer.
"Credit to Lipscomb, really well-coached and made it really difficult for us," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "They sat in, and sometimes that's the way football is. It's cruel. You create a lot of good chances, and Lipscomb's goalkeeper made some incredible saves. I'm really proud of this group and everything they've accomplished this year, the willingness to continue to work and to be intentional every single day. I can't say enough great things about them. Not the result we wanted, but we talk about performance over results. Tonight they gave everything they had and just came a little bit short."
Lipscomb opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Chloe Iliff played a long ball over the top to a spring Bella Carapazza. Carapazza shot back across her body and over the keeper's head to give the Bisons the lead.
State fired off four shots in the first half, but only one was on frame. Ally Perry had the best chances of the half. In the 42nd minute, she joined Zoe Main on a breakaway. Main drew the defenders and laid the ball off to a sprinting Perry, but her shot sailed over the bar.
Moments later in the aftermath of a free kick, Perry tried her luck from distance, but Lipscomb's keeper made a diving save towards the back post.
State dominated the ball in the second half, but Lipscomb doubled down defensively. The Bulldogs earned 10 corners in the final 45 minutes while also taking 14 shots with five on frame.
In the 82nd and 83rd minute, the Bulldogs nearly struck gold twice. Sofia Aguayo's attempt from 30 yards out was saved in the top right corner of the frame. Seconds later, Alivia Buxton's attempt from even further out crashed off the right post and rolled to the corner.
Perry got two more chances late. She took a shot in the 88th minute after receiving a short corner, firing from the top left corner of the box, but a Lipscomb defender left her feet to head the shot away. In the 89th minute, she took a free kick from 25 yards out but shot the ball over the crossbar.
The Bulldogs won a final corner with nine seconds to play. State pushed everyone, including goalkeeper Jenny Harrison, into the box for Aguayo's service, but it did not get through cleanly and time expired as the ball trickled away to the corner.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."
In a defensive battle, the Bisons (15-5-2) found the match's only goal on a breakaway chance midway through the first half. From then on Lipscomb was content to defend as State poured on 18 shots while earning 11 total corners. The Bulldogs possessed the ball for 72 percent of the game, but could never find an equalizer.
"Credit to Lipscomb, really well-coached and made it really difficult for us," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "They sat in, and sometimes that's the way football is. It's cruel. You create a lot of good chances, and Lipscomb's goalkeeper made some incredible saves. I'm really proud of this group and everything they've accomplished this year, the willingness to continue to work and to be intentional every single day. I can't say enough great things about them. Not the result we wanted, but we talk about performance over results. Tonight they gave everything they had and just came a little bit short."
Lipscomb opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Chloe Iliff played a long ball over the top to a spring Bella Carapazza. Carapazza shot back across her body and over the keeper's head to give the Bisons the lead.
State fired off four shots in the first half, but only one was on frame. Ally Perry had the best chances of the half. In the 42nd minute, she joined Zoe Main on a breakaway. Main drew the defenders and laid the ball off to a sprinting Perry, but her shot sailed over the bar.
Moments later in the aftermath of a free kick, Perry tried her luck from distance, but Lipscomb's keeper made a diving save towards the back post.
State dominated the ball in the second half, but Lipscomb doubled down defensively. The Bulldogs earned 10 corners in the final 45 minutes while also taking 14 shots with five on frame.
In the 82nd and 83rd minute, the Bulldogs nearly struck gold twice. Sofia Aguayo's attempt from 30 yards out was saved in the top right corner of the frame. Seconds later, Alivia Buxton's attempt from even further out crashed off the right post and rolled to the corner.
Perry got two more chances late. She took a shot in the 88th minute after receiving a short corner, firing from the top left corner of the box, but a Lipscomb defender left her feet to head the shot away. In the 89th minute, she took a free kick from 25 yards out but shot the ball over the crossbar.
The Bulldogs won a final corner with nine seconds to play. State pushed everyone, including goalkeeper Jenny Harrison, into the box for Aguayo's service, but it did not get through cleanly and time expired as the ball trickled away to the corner.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."
Team Stats
LIP
MSU
Goals
1
0
Shots
3
18
Shots on Goal
2
6
Saves
5
1
Corners
1
11
Fouls
11
6
Scoring Plays
Bella Carapazza (7)
Assisted By: Chloe Iliff
GOAL by LIP Carapazza, Bella Assist by Iliff, Chloe.
31:17
Game Leaders
mid
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
5
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
SOCCER | Lipscomb Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, November 15
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Players Press Conference vs. Lipscomb
Saturday, November 15
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Zoe Main Media Session
Saturday, November 15
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman Media Session
Monday, November 10