For Club And Country

STARKVILLE – Earning the opportunity to play soccer at the SEC level is an enormous and admirable achievement. But being able to play at the international level and represent your country is a whole different story.

At least one rostered player at Mississippi State has either had previous national team experience or gone on to play for their national team in seven of the last nine seasons. The 2025 Bulldog roster boasts nine separate potential FIFA eligibilities, and three players on this year's squad have already worn their national teams' colors.

Bulldog defenders Naila Schoefberger (Austria) and Rebeka Vega-Peleka (Venezuela) and midfielder Sofía Aguayo (Peru) are the latest to boasts experience playing for their respective countries, and they take a lot of pride in being able to represent at such a high level.

"To represent my country means the world to me," Vega-Peleka said. "It's where I was born, and every culture I carry with me. To represent them in a World Cup is an honor that I carry on my chest every time I wear that jersey."

The junior defender has lived in five different countries – Venezuela, Australia, Qatar, Mexico and the United States – and speaks three languages. Vega-Peleka played for the U23 Venezuela National team in the summer of 2023 before competing in the 2024 CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub-20 Feminino in which she started seven out of eight matches. Venezuela went on to qualify for the 2024 FIFA U20 World Cup for just the second time in the nation's history.

Playing at the international level has also given these athletes a chance to see all around the globe.

"I think every experience is unique," Shoefberger said. "You get to experience different cultures depending on where you play, and you get to go home to your own country depending on where you live. Going home is always special because your family's there and you get to play in front of the people that support you, but I would say it's really just those unique experiences that mean a lot."

Shoefberger represented Austria at the 2020 Austrian U17 Women's National Team Camp as well as the 2021 U19 National Team Camp. She then competed at the UEFA U19 Women's Euro Cup Qualifiers in 2022 in Israel, scoring a game-winning goal against the Israelis.

Playing on such a big stage has added tons of experience and skill to these athletes' games, and it has added more versatility to their arsenal when playing in the SEC.

"It has definitely improved my technical ability playing internationally," Vega-Peleka said. "In South America, we were very technical and tactical in the way we play, and that has helped me improve in that part of my game. And, obviously playing with different kinds of players, you become more open minded to who you might be up against. The SEC also has international players, and you're more open to seeing different styles of play. Every coach plays differently."

Aguayo, the youngest of the trio, has already played for both the Peruvian U17 and U20 National Teams. She first represented her country in 2023 in friendlies on the U20 squad before going on to play at the 2024 CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub-17 Feminino.

"In my case, there's a distinct level in other countries than Peru, because of the athleticism and style of the game," Aguayo said. "Once you represent your country against these teams, you notice the difference and how adapting to this style of play can help you. So, little by little I'm going down that path, and being on this team helps me a lot."

Mississippi State will celebrate International Night on Sunday as the Bulldogs take on Auburn at the MSU Soccer Field at 6 p.m. CT.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Naila Schoefberger

Rebeka Vega-Peleka

Related Videos