Déjà Vu For Perry And The Dawgs
September 13, 2025 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – It had to be Ally Perry. It could only be Ally Perry.
All the preseason accolades – the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI, the SEC Preseason Watch List – were because Ally Perry has become known for moments like this.
When Mississippi State topped No. 1 Tennessee, 3-2, in a dramatic Friday night thriller, it was Perry that proved to be the hero. That was no surprise to the Bulldog faithful. You don't need a long memory to recall the last time this scene played out.
The top-ranked team in the nation was coming to the MSU Soccer Field for a conference clash with a Bulldog team not many outside Starkville would pick to walk away winners. A draw? Maybe. The defense would be tough to crack. A win? Good luck against that squad.
Last year, State also took down No. 1 Arkansas in an early October meeting. That Razorback squad had allowed seven goals in 10 games to that point in the year and only two in SEC play. They had yet to lose, bringing in a 9-0-1 record. The Bulldogs brought in a No. 7 ranking and a 9-1-0 record.
Perry flipped the script in the 20th minute last year in a way no one expected. Her corner kick sailed untouched directly into the net for the night's only goal as the Bulldogs picked up their first win over No. 1 in program history.
"I was trying to find Aitana [Martinez-Montoya], but her movement is what caused the goal," Perry said in 2024. "That wouldn't have happened without her movement, so it's really like I only did so much. Aitana did the rest."
This year, Perry did it all.
The senior captain turned in a career-high five points, scoring twice and assisting on the game's first goal. That goal also happened to be the first that the Lady Vols had allowed all year. When the Bulldogs fell behind early in the second half, it was Perry that could be seen in the midfield rallying her teammates to keep up the fight.
"It just felt surreal. Ally came up huge for us, and you know, big players, big moments," fellow captain and scorer of State's first goal Zoe Main said. "I think that's what it came down to – finishing our chances, being efficient. We knew that's what we needed to do coming into the game, and that's what we did."
In the 74th minute, Perry received a pass from Adia Symmonds and fought her way through a tackle to force a shot on frame. The pace of the ball caught the keeper off guard and she barely reacted as the shot sailed past her into the top of the net.
"We met with Ally this week and challenged her with some film like, 'How could we get you in more dangerous spots?'," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "We know that she wants to score goals. We know that she wants to create."
The goal seemed to free Perry up to be more aggressive. Late in a tied match, she fired off three more shots in the final 15 minutes of play. The third time would be the charm.
"That was my first actual goal in the run of play [this year]. I really wanted and needed that momentum for myself with this new season," Perry said. "I needed that to spark my rhythm again, so this gave me confidence. I just knew somebody was going to score again for us, and I wanted to just keep trying to continue giving opportunities for us."
If defeating a No. 1 team at home thanks to Perry wasn't enough déjà vu for you, the game-winner on Friday night added a bit more. Perry's second goal was nearly identical to her first. Symmonds passed Perry the ball in almost the same spot on the pitch. She was a little further out and a little more centered, and this time the defenders were a little further away.
With an even more appealing shot in front of her than her first goal, there was no chance Perry wasn't taking it.
"We said we just needed a moment – one moment of magic, one moment of brilliance," Zimmerman said. "You know that Ally Perry, she's pretty good at soccer. She made it count. Again, it's an individual effort, an absolute missile, you know, that scores. We were sitting there as soon as she takes that touch, as soon as she hits it, we're all like 'It's in.'"
Friday night is the latest chapter in Perry's already legendary career. State's captain moved inside the top 10 in MSU history in career goals with her performance and inside the top three in career assists and game-winning goals. Her two game-winners this season have both come against top-10 opponents.
But beyond her physical play, her biggest impact on the program may be the leadership she shows. Just look back at what she said after downing the Hogs last year:
"It's just one game at a time. Now our focus switches to our next game, and I mean, we build from this. We still have a lot we can work on, but we're growing a lot. We have to just keep playing how we're playing. We can't let any of that get in our head. That's just the only thing that's going to bring us down or get us too high. We have to just play at how we've been playing, and it'll all work out."
You can guarantee that after the fans had filed out and the team returned to the locker room last night, her message mirrored 2024 as closely as her performance did.
All the preseason accolades – the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI, the SEC Preseason Watch List – were because Ally Perry has become known for moments like this.
When Mississippi State topped No. 1 Tennessee, 3-2, in a dramatic Friday night thriller, it was Perry that proved to be the hero. That was no surprise to the Bulldog faithful. You don't need a long memory to recall the last time this scene played out.
The top-ranked team in the nation was coming to the MSU Soccer Field for a conference clash with a Bulldog team not many outside Starkville would pick to walk away winners. A draw? Maybe. The defense would be tough to crack. A win? Good luck against that squad.
Last year, State also took down No. 1 Arkansas in an early October meeting. That Razorback squad had allowed seven goals in 10 games to that point in the year and only two in SEC play. They had yet to lose, bringing in a 9-0-1 record. The Bulldogs brought in a No. 7 ranking and a 9-1-0 record.
Perry flipped the script in the 20th minute last year in a way no one expected. Her corner kick sailed untouched directly into the net for the night's only goal as the Bulldogs picked up their first win over No. 1 in program history.
"I was trying to find Aitana [Martinez-Montoya], but her movement is what caused the goal," Perry said in 2024. "That wouldn't have happened without her movement, so it's really like I only did so much. Aitana did the rest."
This year, Perry did it all.
The senior captain turned in a career-high five points, scoring twice and assisting on the game's first goal. That goal also happened to be the first that the Lady Vols had allowed all year. When the Bulldogs fell behind early in the second half, it was Perry that could be seen in the midfield rallying her teammates to keep up the fight.
"It just felt surreal. Ally came up huge for us, and you know, big players, big moments," fellow captain and scorer of State's first goal Zoe Main said. "I think that's what it came down to – finishing our chances, being efficient. We knew that's what we needed to do coming into the game, and that's what we did."
In the 74th minute, Perry received a pass from Adia Symmonds and fought her way through a tackle to force a shot on frame. The pace of the ball caught the keeper off guard and she barely reacted as the shot sailed past her into the top of the net.
"We met with Ally this week and challenged her with some film like, 'How could we get you in more dangerous spots?'," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "We know that she wants to score goals. We know that she wants to create."
The goal seemed to free Perry up to be more aggressive. Late in a tied match, she fired off three more shots in the final 15 minutes of play. The third time would be the charm.
"That was my first actual goal in the run of play [this year]. I really wanted and needed that momentum for myself with this new season," Perry said. "I needed that to spark my rhythm again, so this gave me confidence. I just knew somebody was going to score again for us, and I wanted to just keep trying to continue giving opportunities for us."
If defeating a No. 1 team at home thanks to Perry wasn't enough déjà vu for you, the game-winner on Friday night added a bit more. Perry's second goal was nearly identical to her first. Symmonds passed Perry the ball in almost the same spot on the pitch. She was a little further out and a little more centered, and this time the defenders were a little further away.
With an even more appealing shot in front of her than her first goal, there was no chance Perry wasn't taking it.
"We said we just needed a moment – one moment of magic, one moment of brilliance," Zimmerman said. "You know that Ally Perry, she's pretty good at soccer. She made it count. Again, it's an individual effort, an absolute missile, you know, that scores. We were sitting there as soon as she takes that touch, as soon as she hits it, we're all like 'It's in.'"
Friday night is the latest chapter in Perry's already legendary career. State's captain moved inside the top 10 in MSU history in career goals with her performance and inside the top three in career assists and game-winning goals. Her two game-winners this season have both come against top-10 opponents.
But beyond her physical play, her biggest impact on the program may be the leadership she shows. Just look back at what she said after downing the Hogs last year:
"It's just one game at a time. Now our focus switches to our next game, and I mean, we build from this. We still have a lot we can work on, but we're growing a lot. We have to just keep playing how we're playing. We can't let any of that get in our head. That's just the only thing that's going to bring us down or get us too high. We have to just play at how we've been playing, and it'll all work out."
You can guarantee that after the fans had filed out and the team returned to the locker room last night, her message mirrored 2024 as closely as her performance did.
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