State Battles Back To Reach Third Straight SEC Semifinal

Tuesday, November 4

Pensacola, Fla.

4:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

12-5-1, 5-4-1

#4 Arkansas

9-4-4, 7-1-2

Mississippi St.

Arkansas

State Battles Back To Reach Third Straight SEC Semifinal

November 04, 2025 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Ally Perry Postgame Interview

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Just call them the Dawgs From Distance. A pair of fantastic strikes from outside the box lifted Mississippi State to a 2-1 comeback victory over No. 4 Arkansas on Tuesday night at the SEC Tournament.

The Bulldogs conceded the first goal in the 23rd minute, but it took them just 32 seconds to answer. Rebeka Vega-Peleka hit a beautiful ball from just outside the top left corner of the box that sailed over the keeper to the back upper 90 to even the score. It was Vega-Peleka's first goal as a Bulldog.

In the second half, Ally Perry did what she's known to do best. Her left-footed strike from the top of the box curled under the crossbar for the game-winning goal in the 59th minute. It was Perry's 11th career game-winner, tying the MSU school record held by MaKayla Waldner (2016-19).

"We couldn't be more proud of this group," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "To play the way we played tonight against a very, very good team after playing Sunday shows the commitment, the togetherness and the mentality that this group has. We were hard and smart tonight and embodied our 'Just Us' mentality!"

Perry is now tied for third in program history with 59 career points and fourth with 21 career goals. Her 23 points this season rank eighth in program history behind her 24-point season last year.

With the win, Zimmerman won his third top-10 matchup in his first year at the helm. The Bulldogs (12-5-1, 5-4-1 SEC) had just three top-10 wins in program history entering this season.

As a team, MSU has now broken the program's SEC Tournament record for goals (3), shots (45) and corners (13) in a single tournament. The Bulldogs' seven corners and 23 shots tonight broke State's SEC Tournament records established in the first round of this year's tournament against Oklahoma.

MSU will now face LSU in the first semifinal match at 3:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 6. The Bulldogs are the first No. 8 seed to advance to the SEC Tournament's semifinals since 2018, and this marks their third consecutive time advancing that far after having just one SEC Tournament victory prior to 2023.

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