Four Meridian soccer players move up to next level

(MERIDIAN)- Following three consecutive championship seasons the Meridian Community College women’s soccer program is certainly on the rise. Making that even more evident is the fact that four Lady Eagle sophomores all signed to play at the next level.

MCC sophomores: Catie Lyles, Christina Murray, Jantzen Oliver, and Mary Beth Weber are all moving on to four year university soccer programs.

Lyles, a midfielder, played her high school soccer at West Jones High School and is from Laurel, MS. She will be moving on to Montevallo University in Alabama, a member of the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II.

Lyles was named one of the sophomore team captains at MCC. She scored 8 career goals for the Lady Eagles, which included a six her sophomore year. She also added 14 assist during her two seasons at MCC, including nine her sophomore season. She also is tied for the record for most assist in a single game (3).

Murray, also a midfielder, played her high school soccer at Excellcior High School in Kingston Jamaica. She will be going on to Troy University in Alabama, a member of the Sun Belt Conference and NCAA Division I.

Murray was named one of the sophomore team captains at MCC. She led the Lady eagles each of the past two seasons in goals, with 17 her freshman season and 22 her sophomore season. She leaves MCC with 39 career goals which tied McKenzie Butler of 2006- 2007 with the most in MCC history. She also holds the record for most goals in a single game with five.

Murray leaves MCC with 18 career assist, which includes 10 her sophomore season.

Murray was also named NJCAA National Player of the Week in September.

Weber, a striker, played her high school soccer at Laurel High School in Laurel, MS. She will be going on to Belhaven University in Mississippi, a member of NAIA.

Weber scored nine career goals with five her freshman season and four her sophomore season.

Oliver , a defender, will also be going to Belhaven University along with Weber.

Oliver played for Pascagoula High School and scored four career goals for MCC. She also leaves Meridian with five career assist.

All four of these ladies were apart of building a winning tradition at MCC, as they captured the program’s first ever Region 23 Championship in 2008 and then defended their title successfully this season for back to back Region titles in ’08 and ’09. The Lady Eagles also claimed NJCAA District E Runners-up in 2008 and 2009.