Women’s Soccer has sights set high

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast opens the 2020-21 women's soccer season with a lot of new people and things on their minds.

There's an influx of freshman talent that has coach Jackie Rhodes thinking big things for the squad, and there's a new NJCAA classification the Bulldogs are playing in which opens new avenues.

"We want to compete for a state championship," she said. "Our state championship gets an automatic bid for nationals, and there's an at-large bid. We've got two different ways to make the national tournament."

Rhodes thinks if the Bulldogs can make the state championship game, they'll have a good chance to advance to the NJCAA Division II national championship tournament. It will be played Evans, Ga., in early June.

The NJCAA only played Division I and Division III soccer until this year, and the new classification aligns better with the MACCC structure. The conference comprises the whole of Region 23, which means the two teams in the state championship game have a great chance to advance.

"We are a much more complete team than we've been the last few years," Rhodes said. "I think we're going to be able to compete with those high-scoring teams. Offensively, we'll be able to compete in those big games. Defensively, we are sound."

She said she has three keepers who are capable of starting, but Skyler Steede (So., Lucedale/George County) will get the nod at the beginning of the season. The transfer has a year of experience in the league, which puts her just ahead of Anna Hoben (Fr., Vicksburg/Warren Central) and Cheyenne Hendrix (Fr., Corinth/Corinth). The trio puts Gulf Coast in a strong spot.

The corps of defenders is freshman heavy. Bettie Shoemaker (So., Vancleave/St. Martin) is the only player returning. Olivia Palisi (Fr., Diamondhead/Hancock), Journee Wilson (Fr., Jackson/Murrah) and Brianna Lee (Fr., Perkinston/Stone) will also be the in rotation there. There may be some growing pains adapting to the pace of the college game, but they have a high ceiling.

"I think our midfield is one of the better midfields in the state," Rhodes said. "We're going to be able to transition really fast, and if we do that, we're going to have a chance to win a lot of games. They're also all freshmen, but they're very smart players. They're some of our best players."

The group includes internationals Molly Etchells (Fr., Manchester, England/Longdendale) and Leah Bennett (Fr., Cape Town, South Africa/Mondeor) Katie Brown (Fr., Picayune/Home School) will also figure into the mix.

If speed kills, the Gulf Coast front line could be deadly. They are fast. Ashley Preston (So., Wiggins/Stone) is a transfer from Hinds who knows how to make the correct runs. Hannah Salter (Fr., Olive Branch/Lewisburg) and Alyssa Palisi (Fr., Diamondhead/Hancock) can punish the opposition.

"I think we're going to be able to get in behind back lines some," Rhodes said.
"They take shots very well. If we can get them the ball in transition, we've got a chance to score some goals." 

Kierra Sanchez (So., Ocean Springs/St. Martin) and Holly Weaver (So., Gulfport/Long Beach) are other players who will factor in the lineup. Their experience from last year means there's more depth on this year's squad.

The MACCC has three teams ranked in the NJCAA Division II rankings, including No. 2 Holmes, which Gulf Coast travels to play Thursday. Jones is ranked ninth and Itawamba 18th.

"Soccer in the state just keeps getting stronger and stronger," Rhodes said. "There are no more gimme games. You'll have to earn every win on the schedule, which makes all of us better. It's gonna be a dogfight all the way through."

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