STARKVILLE — Hanging in Mississippi State forward Zoe Main’s locker is a Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United shirt with the number 7 on the back. As a United supporter, Main knows 7 is a historic shirt at United, worn by some of the game’s greatest ever players like Ronaldo, David Beckham and Eric Cantona. It’s a signifier of playmakers, and a number Main was quick to grab upon its availability this spring as she stepped into a bigger role for the Bulldogs.
Main won’t just be leading the line in 2025, she’ll be one of the leaders in the team.
“It’s been pretty cool to wear that number again,” she said. “I wore it growing up, and since it was available, I knew it was now or never. It’s great to take that because there have been so many historical number 7’s, especially at Man United, but I think it’s been cool and it’s something I look forward to next season.”
Main made a position change from winger to center forward, scoring six goals for the Bulldogs. She’ll be the primary forward this season, and the work she did to embrace the position change has helped her adapt to her new role as a leader.
“I grew a lot in that role throughout the season, but this spring has been really good for me to take a step back and learn the role,” she said. “We graduated our captains, so a big part as well is learning how Macey, Maddy and Aitana did it. Navigating that role, and with newcomers coming in, I’ve tried to give that energy as a captain this spring.”
Alongside Main will be a familiar and reliable face, that of Ally Perry, a returning captain who led the team with 10 goals during the SEC championship season, including vital goals against Texas, Arkansas and Texas A&M to clinch the title. The pair is part of a small group of returning starters after the graduation of a historic senior class, and now they’re the leaders in the locker room under first-year head coach Nick Zimmerman.
The continuity is important for the team identity, and despite losing so much experience, there is still confidence in knowing who they are.
“Since he was an assistant before, it was a pretty smooth change, but the way he’s taken this head-on and tried to learn how to be the best coach for us is inspiring,” Perry said of Zimmerman. “He has his changes on the field, but he’s taken time to introduce us to film and a different type of mentality training.”
The mentality training stuck, and helped Perry with carrying over the confidence she found as an individual and within the team last season.
“His focus on that has helped everyone,” she added,” and I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else.”
Growing as leaders
Perry drew a lot from her teammates as well, especially Hannah Johnson and the mentality she brought to the team. They played similar roles for the Bulldogs, and the blend of attacking talent and field vision with a high work rate was a big influence on Perry as she found her feet in the starting lineup.
“She is one of the hardest workers I know,” Perry said of Johnson. “She’s experienced a lot of adversity, and I take a lot from what she’s gone through. It inspires me, she really started from the bottom but she evolved into such an amazing player.”
Johnson’s selflessness was evident in her play, filling roles throughout the midfield and forward line as needed. She occupied a holding midield role when Ilana Izquierdo suffered a season-ending injury, and assisted a memorable goal for Main in the NCAA Tournament.
Perry shares that sense of selflessness, taking more pride in the goals she creates than the goals she scores.
“I find more joy in creating opportunities for others, and I think that’s why I love my role so much, she said. “I’m not always supposed to be the goal scorer, I’m supposed to create for others. I’m fortunate that I still create for myself, and sometimes teams mark me more, and that’s another way I can contribute, is that others are more open.”
“Selfless” is a good adjective to describe the Bulldogs’ style of play as well. The team has to work as one with or without the ball, and the emphasis on fitness and working to defend as much of the field as possible has continued with Zimmerman’s ascension to head coach.
The familiarity with Zimmerman and assistant coach Kat Stratton has helped, but Main also credited the contributions of new assistants Jonathan Garbar and Henry Zapata as the team builds on its identity with new personnel.
Main and Perry both fit in at the top of the formation, but creating and scoring goals is just one part of their game. As leaders from the front, they set the tone with their pressing, and that exciting brand of soccer that brought record crowds to the MSU soccer field is set to continue in 2025.
“We’ve shifted a little with how we press and keep teams contained, and that’s been a learning point for us,” Main said. “This has been a great semester for keeping our identity and adapting it to our game. Nothing will change in terms of our work ethic, it’s very blue collar, that’s how we built this program. Nick has done a great job, and I’m excited to see how that translates in the fall.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
