2012 MCC Women's Soccer Preview

Despite the fact his MCC Lady Eagles lost 6 standouts from last year’s 7-6-2 team that lost in the Region 23 Championship, Coach Mike Smith is all smiles.

“We have a really good chance to win the Region 23 title this year, it’s going to take a lot of work but if we do what we need to do we could have a great side”. Smith said his team, which faces a very tough schedule, has a lot of depth this year. “We got 19 girls” said Smith. “We have several players with special abilities.” One of those players is sophomore Pam Gean of Olive Branch. “She is a good one” he said. “She has a motor that won’t quit and a great work ethic.” Gean finished 2011 with 14 goals and 5 assist, team highs in both.


While the Lady Eagles have some finesse, they also have what the better Lady Eagle teams have always had. “We are going to be physical!” said Smith. “The team that won the MACJC State Championship in 2007 and the squads that won the Region 23 in 2008 & 2009 were all physical teams and that’s what you need at this level.”

Another quality the women will have is speed. “We have got some good speed on this year’s team, which has been lacking the past couple of years.” A few of young ladies that Coach Smith is talking about are sophomore Malley Gullette, freshman Kristen Morris and freshman Taylor Hanes. “These 3 girls can flat out fly and that’s why I wanted them” he said. Morris and Hanes are expected to be strikers for the Lady Eagle’s and Gullette is expected to be a defender.

“Our schedule has gotten tougher-and-tougher over the years” he said. “We like to play teams that are going to make us better. We find we are more successful when we do that. It may mean we don’t win as many regular season games, but the National Tournament is what we are shooting for.”

MCC Lady Eagles have never made it to the National Tournament in its 10 years of existence. The closest they ever got was in 2009 when they lost in the District E Championship to Tyler JC.

The toughest teams the Lady Eagles will face will be Jones on September 5th and Pearl River on September 25th; both games are at CD Smith Field. Other schools MCC will face this year include in-state rivals Hinds and Gulf Coast. Coach Mike Smith has August 28th circled on the calendar he said. “That’s when we play Gulf Coast.” Gulf Coast beat MCC in the Region 23 Championship 1-0 last year in Overtime. “I know the sophomore girls are really looking forward to playing them again” he said.

While Smith likes to draw talent from wherever it may be, he also looks to add as many local players as he can. Two of the locals Smith expect big things from this year are MHS Standouts Merrick and Miller Watkins. “It looks like they are going to be able to step right in and play” Smith said. “They will be great assets and will fit our team chemistry well.”

Skilled defender Kari Zendejas from Northwest Rankin returns and is expected to captain the Lady Eagles in 2012. “Kari was a HUGE piece to the puzzle last year, and I expect her to be the same in 2012” said Coach Mike. “Kari is the anchor in the back and very aggressive and that’s what you got to be to play at this level. “

Coach Smith also expects big things from Warren Central’s Toree Danczyk and Olive Branch’s Lacie Hemker. Both girls are expected to be great contributors in the back for the Lady Eagle’s.

Ridgeland’s Haley Hegwood is expected to be the starting keeper come August. “Haley has some big shoes to fill” Smith said. “We lost Chasity Robertson, our keeper, who was huge for the women last year and Haley expects to win and that’s what I love about her. She’s done nothing but win throughout her high school career and I don’t think she wants to start changing that now” Said Smith.

West Lauderdale’s Kaitlin Polk will also compete for playing time at Keeper, while Horn Lake’s April Carrasco and Hernando’s Katelynn Zuk will play in the midfield. Another returning player Smith expects big things from is Defender Lakyn Bice. “Lakyn was hurt half of the season last year and we saw just a glimpse of what she can do” said Smith. “She was only able to play the last 5-6 games and did very well. I expect her to be on the back line in August.”

Defender Rachel Burgess and West Lauderdale standout Ashlyn Pope will be able to give the Lady Eagle’s some good minutes as well. Sophomore Leslie Benson from Horn Lake is miles ahead of where she was last year and should be able to contribute as well and Mendenhall Kaylynn Welch and Philadelphia’s Courtney Bounds will both see some good minutes for the Lady Eagle’s.

The Lady Eagle’s will kick off their season August 21st at Southwest Community College at 2 pm.