No. 9 State Soccer Improves to 9-1 After Another Dominant SEC Performance

Sunday, September 29

Starkville

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

9-1-0, 3-0-0

LSU

7-4-1, 2-2-0

LSU

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Mike Mattina/MSU Athletics

No. 9 State Soccer Improves to 9-1 After Another Dominant SEC Performance

September 29, 2024 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Lance Pardue, Communications Fellow

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State soccer continues to reach new heights in the 2024 season and continued their impressive run with a commanding victory on Sunday night at the MSU Soccer Field. With the victory, the Dawgs move to 9--1-0 overall and 3-0-0 in SEC play, picking up an ever-important three points on home turf. State has shown a remarkable blend of attacking prowess and defensive stability, outscoring their conference opponents 5-0 and outshooting them by an overwhelming 53-18 margin across the three matches.

Through three SEC matches, Mississippi State has showcased their ascent into the top 10 through outstanding complimentary play on the pitch. Their success is built on controlling both sides of the ball and maintaining relentless offensive pressure while smothering opposing attacks. The Bulldogs have yet to concede a single goal in conference play, a testament to the defense and their airtight coordination.

Keeper Maddy Anderson's unwavering presence between the posts has been vital as State's ability to not only shut out opponents but also limit them to just 18 shots combined over three conference matches highlights the collective defensive effort. On the other side, State's 53 shots demonstrate their relentless attacking mindset, a trend that has carried them to the top of the SEC standings.

Anderson currently sits second in the SEC with eight shutouts this season (nine overall). Anderson leads the conference with a goals against average of just 0.21, illustrating her effectiveness at thwarting opposing offenses. With an impressive save percentage of .917, Anderson's performances have been crucial in maintaining Mississippi State's clean slate in SEC play, and her leadership has instilled confidence throughout the defense.

Leading the Bulldogs' offense is none other than Ally Perry, who continues to assert herself as one of the premier players in the SEC. Perry's relentless pursuit of goal-scoring opportunities has made her a nightmare for defenders, as she currently ranks third in the conference in total shots with 46 – despite having played two fewer matches than the players ranked above her. Even more impressively, Perry leads the SEC in shots per game, averaging an astounding 4.60 shots per contest, a figure that reflects her ability to create danger every time she steps onto the pitch.

Perry's consistent ability to find scoring opportunities has translated into direct results on the scoreboard as well. Perry ranks sixth in the SEC in goals per game, netting an average of 0.60 goals per contest. Her knack for breaking open tight games and being a reliable scoring threat has been pivotal for Mississippi State's strong start to the season. With six goals and three game-winners already under her belt, Perry continues to come through in the clutch for the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State's success in 2024 has been powered by more than just individual performances; it's been a total team effort. The Bulldogs' balanced attack has seen a variety of players contribute across the board State's goal distribution has been widespread, with twelve different Bulldogs finding the back of the net this season. On the defensive side, the Bulldogs have been equally impressive. In addition to their clean slate in SEC play, Mississippi State has allowed just two goals all season, further solidifying their position as one of the top defensive units in the nation. Anchored by Anderson in goal and a backline that works seamlessly together, Coaches Drago Ceranic and Kat Stratton have instilled an impressive unit in Starkville

Mississippi State's performances have not only been successful on the pitch but also in the stands. The atmosphere at home matches has reached a new level with back-to-back top ten crowds entering the gates to see soccer in StarkVegas. The Dawg faithful have become the 12th player in the match, helping the team set program records in attendance while pushing the home unbeaten streak to eleven matches, including nine straight wins.

With their perfect start in SEC play, the Bulldogs now turn their attention to the current top team in the nation in Arkansas who the Bulldogs will welcome to Starkville on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be featured on national television via SEC Network.

Scoring Summary:

50:07 | STATE: Ally Perry (Assists: Atiana Martinez-Montoya, Ilana Izquierdo)
87:12 | STATE: Ally Perry (Unassisted)

Key Stats:

Shots: STATE 22, LSU 1
Shots on Goal: STATE 9, LSU 0
Saves: LSU 6, STATE 0
Corner Kicks: STATE 12, LSU 0
Fouls: LSU 14, STATE 12

Quoting Head Coach James Armstrong:
On The Crowd

JA: "This is a big win in front of another awesome crowd. The atmosphere, the cowbells, I know I say it every time, but we cannot thank [the fans] enough. The fans, if they can come out here [for the Arkansas game], they make a massive difference. We are looking to break the 2,000 person attendance record; it has never been done before. 2,000 people ringing cowbells can sound like 15,000 people and that is what we are hoping for.

On LSU
JA: "LSU is a quality side. They have had some really good results and will continue to have good results down the stretch. For us tonight to get 12 corners, 22 shots, and limit them to one shot, it says a lot about the overall performance of the group.

Quoting Macy Hodge:
On The Defense
MH: "Bringing Coach Drago Ceranic in created a whole new culture of what defense means to us. That is the foundation of what we do, we like working extremely hard behind the ball to put us in a position to score and just the overall mindset has changed the group's dynamic."

On The Support Of The Community
MH: It is hard to describe the feeling of having so many people support you, especially within the community and within the school. Being a part of this program for a long time and seeing the number [of fans] grow over time is just a testament to what this team does on the field, but also in the community.

For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's soccer on X, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateSoc."

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