Friday, September 12
Starkville
6 p.m.
Mississippi State
6-1-0, 1-0-0
3
vs
2
#1 Tennessee
6-1-1, 0-1-0
1
2
F
Tennessee
0
2
2
Mississippi St.
1
2
3
Bulldogs Knock Off No. 1 Tennessee To Open SEC Play
September 12, 2025 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – For the second year in a row, Mississippi State took down the top-ranked team in the nation at home, and for the second year in a row Ally Perry was the hero.
The Bulldogs (6-1-0, 1-0-0 SEC) defeated No. 1 Tennessee, 3-2, on Friday night in comeback fashion. Perry scored twice in the game's final 20 minutes to tie it and win it with 1:04 to play.
"I mean, again, I'm so, so proud of the girls' response," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "I mean we scored a really good goal, and conceded two goals. To score the second and not just be content with getting the second, but to get after it and score the third really showed that willingness to keep fighting. We said we just needed a moment – one moment of magic, one moment of brilliance. You know that Ally Perry, she's pretty good at soccer. She made it count, but obviously this was a total, total team effort and team win. You know, everyone just buying in, and I think that's what makes this sport so special."
Zoe Main opened the scoring in the 11th minute. It was the first goal Tennessee (6-1-1, 0-1-0 SEC) had allowed all year, including dating back to their exhibition and spring matches. Perry played a through ball to Adia Symmonds who cut it back for Main just as she leaped over the sliding keeper.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the break, but the Lady Vols came out of the locker room strong. Anaiyah Robinson scored twice in the 53rd and 55th minutes to flip the one-goal lead.
In the 74th minute, Symmonds played a ball to Perry at the edge of the box. Perry fought through contact and fired from just inside the 18-yard box to tie the match. Later with the clock winding down, it was again Symmonds drawing the defense and leaving a ball for Perry roughly 25 yards out. Perry's left-footed strike beat the keeper and sent the crowd of 2,104, sixth-largest in program history, into chaos.
The Bulldogs have now won two of their three meetings with No. 1 all-time. Zimmerman already has a pair of top-10 victories to his credit just seven games into his tenure.
The five-point night for Perry saw her rise in the Bulldog record book in multiple categories. It was a career-high for the senior and the first five-point game for a Bulldog since 2019. She now boasts 15 career assists and eight career game-winning goals, both of which now have her tied for third in school history. She also cracked the MSU career top 10 in goals with Nos. 15 and 16. Symmonds' two assists were also a career high.
Mississippi State returns to the pitch on Thursday, Sept. 18, when the Bulldogs travel to Austin, Texas. That match will see the defending SEC regular season champions take on the SEC Tournament champion Texas Longhorns at 7 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."
The Bulldogs (6-1-0, 1-0-0 SEC) defeated No. 1 Tennessee, 3-2, on Friday night in comeback fashion. Perry scored twice in the game's final 20 minutes to tie it and win it with 1:04 to play.
"I mean, again, I'm so, so proud of the girls' response," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "I mean we scored a really good goal, and conceded two goals. To score the second and not just be content with getting the second, but to get after it and score the third really showed that willingness to keep fighting. We said we just needed a moment – one moment of magic, one moment of brilliance. You know that Ally Perry, she's pretty good at soccer. She made it count, but obviously this was a total, total team effort and team win. You know, everyone just buying in, and I think that's what makes this sport so special."
Zoe Main opened the scoring in the 11th minute. It was the first goal Tennessee (6-1-1, 0-1-0 SEC) had allowed all year, including dating back to their exhibition and spring matches. Perry played a through ball to Adia Symmonds who cut it back for Main just as she leaped over the sliding keeper.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the break, but the Lady Vols came out of the locker room strong. Anaiyah Robinson scored twice in the 53rd and 55th minutes to flip the one-goal lead.
In the 74th minute, Symmonds played a ball to Perry at the edge of the box. Perry fought through contact and fired from just inside the 18-yard box to tie the match. Later with the clock winding down, it was again Symmonds drawing the defense and leaving a ball for Perry roughly 25 yards out. Perry's left-footed strike beat the keeper and sent the crowd of 2,104, sixth-largest in program history, into chaos.
The Bulldogs have now won two of their three meetings with No. 1 all-time. Zimmerman already has a pair of top-10 victories to his credit just seven games into his tenure.
The five-point night for Perry saw her rise in the Bulldog record book in multiple categories. It was a career-high for the senior and the first five-point game for a Bulldog since 2019. She now boasts 15 career assists and eight career game-winning goals, both of which now have her tied for third in school history. She also cracked the MSU career top 10 in goals with Nos. 15 and 16. Symmonds' two assists were also a career high.
Mississippi State returns to the pitch on Thursday, Sept. 18, when the Bulldogs travel to Austin, Texas. That match will see the defending SEC regular season champions take on the SEC Tournament champion Texas Longhorns at 7 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."
Team Stats
UT
MSU
Goals
2
3
Shots
14
11
Shots on Goal
5
3
Saves
0
3
Corners
7
3
Fouls
7
10
Scoring Plays
Zoe Main (3)
Assisted By: Adia Symmonds , Ally Perry
GOAL by MSU Main, Zoe Assist by Symmonds, Adia and Perry, Ally.
10:04
Anaiyah Robinson (2)
Assisted By: Jenna Stayart
GOAL by UT Robinson, Anaiyah Assist by Stayart, Jenna.
52:48
Anaiyah Robinson (2)
Assisted By: Keaton Mitchell , Luciana Latino
GOAL by UT Robinson, Anaiyah Assist by Mitchell, Keaton and Latino, Luciana.
54:42
Ally Perry (3)
GOAL by MSU Perry, Ally.
73:43
Ally Perry (3)
Assisted By: Adia Symmonds
GOAL by MSU Perry, Ally Assist by Symmonds, Adia.
88:56
Game Leaders
Players
mid
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Players Press Conference vs Tennessee
Friday, September 12
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Players Media Session
Wednesday, September 10
SOCCER | Nick Zimmerman and Players Press Conference vs Louisiana Tech
Thursday, September 04
SOCCER | Highlights vs. Louisiana Tech
Thursday, September 04