STARKVILLE — Mississippi State women’s soccer improved to 5-1 this weekend with a 1-0 victory over South Alabama. Bulldogs midfielder Ally Perry fired the winning goal into the back of the net with exactly one minute remaining on the clock.
“The girls were patient and kept going all the way until the final whistle,” head coach James Armstrong said after the game. “I think that says a lot about their character and the belief within the group. They all felt that they were going to get (a goal), it was just a matter of when. Thankfully we were able to get one before the final whistle and it was a great finish by Ally Perry.”
It was yet another match where the Bulldogs dominated their opponent in terms of possession and goal scoring chances but only managed to break through once.
Perry, who has hit nearly every part of the goal frame this season with some thundering shots from distance, finally found the back of the net at just the right time for her team.
“I have been waiting a long time,” Perry said of finally getting her goal. “It was a very rewarding feeling, it means we have something to work off of for the next game, but I am very happy I could put this in the back of the net for our team.”
South Alabama is often one of the strongest teams in the Sun Belt with a strong tradition of soccer. The two teams drew in 2023, 2022 and 2021, with MSU’s last win against the Jaguars coming in 2019.
Needless to say, it was always going to be difficult to break through the Jaguars defense. MSU outshot the visitors 29-3, with goalkeeper Maddy Anderson and the defense registering yet another clean sheet. The defensive structure and the midfield are the strengths of the team and something that helps keep Armstrong’s team in the thick of it whether the game is going their way or not.
“They’re so experienced, calm and composed,” Perry said of the defense. “We wouldn’t be the same without them, and Maddy Anderson, of course.”
The defensive duties extend to the front line as well, and Perry plays a pivotal role in pressing the opposition to win back possession. The strikers and the midfield press relentlessly to help win the ball and on Sunday it kept South Alabama pinned back for much of the game.
“I’m just told to keep them wide and we double down,” Perry said. “We work together. It’s not individual, it’s really more all together and I think that’s what gets teams.”
The Bulldogs are back on the road this week, traveling to Ruston to face Louisiana Tech on Thursday night. A week later is the final nonconference home game against Abilene Christian before Southeastern Conference play begins on Sept. 19 against Oklahoma.
All games are available to stream on ESPN+.
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