Newcomers Steal The Show On Senior Night

Thursday, September 4

Starkville

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

4-1-0, 0-0-0

Louisiana Tech

1-5-1, 0-0-0

Louisiana Tech

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Newcomers Steal The Show On Senior Night

September 04, 2025 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights Press Conference Photo Gallery

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Senior Night turned into the newcomer's coming out party on Thursday night as Mississippi State defeated Louisiana Tech, 4-0. Every player with a goal or an assist in the game was new to State's roster in 2025.

Three freshmen scored, and Louisiana Tech transfer Kyra Taylor opened the scoring. Nancy Almanza, who came to Starkville from Jacksonville State, recorded an assist after being honored pregame during senior ceremonies. The Bulldogs now boast 10 goals on the season, and all 10 have been scored by different players. Four more players also have at least one assist this season.

"I mean I think looking at it – I was just told that we have 10 goals on the season and 10 different goal scorers – it's a credit to the group. It's a credit to the system that we play," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "Ultimately it is a step in the right direction. A lot of things that we worked on just last week, you know, just from Baylor and Oklahoma State were really important. We're trying to be more dangerous and create more chances. We still have to look at some things, but it was a great step in the right direction. I'm really proud of the group overall."

The first half was all Mississippi State. The home Bulldogs outshot Louisiana Tech, 17-1, and they put 10 shots on target, forcing eight saves. Along the way, MSU picked up six corners and did not allow a shot on goal. State held 71 percent of possession, and 51 percent of State's time on the ball was spent in the final quarter of the field.

Taylor's goal came in the 27th minute. Ally Perry put a shot on target that the keeper touched off the bar. Taylor was the first to the rebound and fought through a tackle on the goal line to force the ball into the net against her former school. Later in the half, Ella Petersen beat her defender on the edge of the box and was dragged down, earning a penalty kick. Adia Symmonds stepped up to the spot and scored her first career goal.

State made a change in net for the second half, and Jenny Harrison made her collegiate debut. Harrison handled a few crosses entering her box, but State again held the opponent without a shot on goal in the second half.

"The joke, right, is if you have the ball then it's really, really hard for teams to create chances, and that's something that we pride ourselves on is dominating possession," Zimmerman added. "It was another night where we dominated the ball, and that's going to be our common theme of what we're trying to be as an organization. We want to have the ball. We want to enjoy it."

In the 68th minute, Laila Murillo uncorked a shot from 30-plus yards out and cleanly snuck it into the top left corner of the net for her first career goal. Tatum Borman picked up her first career assist on the play. In the 83rd, Nancy Almanza found herself one-on-one with the keeper who made a diving save on her attempt. The rebound caromed straight to Elsa Johnson on the goal line for her first career goal.

State finished the match with a season-high 25 shots and 16 shots on goal. The visiting Bulldogs mustered just three attempts. MSU also earned a season-high-tying nine corner kicks, and finished the match with 68 percent of possession, which trails only their performance in the season-opener against Jacksonville State (70 percent).

MSU is back on the road on Sunday to close out non-conference play. The Bulldogs will play at South Alabama at 2 p.m. with the match airing on ESPN+.

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