STARKVILLE — In the stands at the Mississippi State Soccer Field, there is a collection of flags representing the countries of every player to put on the shirt for the Bulldog women’s soccer team. They decorate the main bleachers alongside the state flag of Mississippi, representing the diversity of the maroon and white team.
In 2025, the German flag will return to the lineup.
Defender Chiara Tappe, a native of Lemgo, Germany, signed with the Bulldogs and became the final member of the MSU roster for the 2025 season. She joins from club FSV Gutersloh, which competes in the Second Division Frauenbundesliga in Germany, where she played at the youth level, scoring nine goals in 40 matches since 2022.
Tappe follows in the footsteps of former Bulldog Gwen Mummert, who was an anchor on the defensive end for the Bulldogs in 2022 and now plays for German side Carl Zeiss Jena in the Frauenbundesliga.
“It’s about finding the right people, people who understand what it is to put on a Mississippi State shirt, and to truly embody what it means to be here,” MSU head coach Nick Zimmerman said in an interview with The Dispatch this spring.
In April, Zimmerman had to make some tough decisions about roster spots moving forward. The Bulldogs added several players through the transfer portal to help replace the nine starters who departed after the 2024 SEC championship season. Among the arrivals are international players from Canada, Venezuela and now Germany.
Zimmerman spoke about the recruitment process in a speech at the Starkville Rotary club last week, showing the end product of player development and the success of recent years with six players signing professional contracts within the last year. That process hasn’t just been domestic; it’s focused heavily on identifying and recruiting international talent looking for the right development opportunity.
Zimmerman remarked that there will be a lot of flags flying at the MSU Soccer Field, and with the track record of development, it is easy to see why. Colombia national team midfielder Ilana Izquierdo became the latest Bulldog to sign a professional contract this summer, joining Mexican side San Luis after recovering from an ankle injury. She is one of three players to sign a professional contract abroad, while three other teammates signed contracts in the National Women’s Soccer League. The current squad also features two players, Zoe Main and Adia Symmonds, who were called up to the U.S. Women’s National Team College camp.
The main goal for the team this year is to continue building on recent success. While Zimmerman asked for some patience to get the team competing at the same level as last year, the current squad reflects success on the recruiting trail.
“Our sell is, if you want to go pro, then you’re not going to find a better environment,” he said. “We’re going to develop you, we’re gonna grow you, everything we do is about football. And it’s going to be one in a spot where the proof is in the pudding.”
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