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WESSON – Be competitive and be confident every time you step on the pitch. That’s the gospel being preached by first year Copiah-Lincoln women’s soccer coach Junior Noel to his team. Wins have been lean over the last few years for the Lady Wolves, but Noel believes that this team has what it takes to build a program.
A sophomore class made of seven student-athletes is a nice departure for a team that was made up of nearly all freshmen in 2014. Destiny Allen, Amber Harris, Kerry Hayes, Victoria Jackson, Madison Johnson, Si’Edriq Middleton, and Chelsey Pruitt are the Lady Wolves sophomores. Hayes, Jackson, and Pruitt were all teammates at Moss Point High School before coming to Co-Lin. Harris, also from the Gulf Coast, prepped at St. Martin High School. Johnson joined the team in 2014 after the beginning of the season and is also a member of the Co-Lin cheer team. Allen, a West Lincoln graduate, started nearly every game as goalkeeper as a freshman. Middleton, a former Franklin County Bulldogs, will see her role shift more to a forward position after playing in the midfield in 2014.
Middleton came to Co-Lin with a reputation as a goal scorer, but her presence was needed elsewhere as a freshman and she rarely got to put a shot on goal. Noel hopes that some improved depth in the midfield will allow Middleton more opportunities to square up to the goal with the ball. Confidence is something the coach thinks the sophomore class is building.
“The sophomores have bought into what we want to do, but they don’t always play with confidence and that is something we’re working on improving,” Noel said. “The freshmen have brought some energy and confidence and I have seen the team come together during preseason camp.”
Allen will be joined at goalkeeper by freshman Jhessika Crosby of Mendenhall. Noel says working with his goalkeepers has been a priority since training began. “The focus with our goalkeepers is to develop skills and that’s what we’ve been trying to achieve through drills,” said Noel.
Noel has been happy with a group of 10 freshmen fielders. Freshmen Krislyn Kent and Jourdon Cummings played big roles on a strong Franklin County Lady Bulldog team in 2014. Crosby is joined at Co-Lin by her former Mendenhall teammate Hailey Smith. Nadia Jones and Raven Jones come to Co-Lin from Laurel High School. Freshmen Caroline Bankston and Raven London have played a high level of high school soccer at Terry High School and Vicksburg School respectively. Freshman Ashley Seelal hails from High Point, North Carolina. Mallory Holden comes to Co-Lin after a decorated career at Loyd Star and follows in the footsteps of two brothers, Garrett and Chance, who also played soccer for the Wolves.
A roster of 18 players will hopefully provide the Lady Wolves with depth, something they’ve been lacking in recent seasons. Playing aggressively, moving the ball, and pressuring the other team with shots on goal is what Noel wants his team to do, but more than anything, he hopes to see them grow throughout the season.
“I want the ladies to understand that the game requires you to compete with all you have every time you play,” said Noel. “If you compete and you fill your role, then good things will happen for you and the team.”
