2004

PHOTO BY PAULA MERRin I THE MERIDIAN STAA

BATTLING FOR THE BALL East Central Community College's David Prewitt, center, battles EMCC s Davls Jordon, left, and Josh Garner for the ball in a recent match in Decatur. East Central, EMCC face woes looking for soccer athletes

By Marty Stamper staff writer

~ I't:e got five players that didn t play in high school.

Soccer may bt> catching on in Mississippi, but you might have a hard time convincing area junior college coaches Brian Bt>nnett of East Mississippi and Kenneth Thompson of East Central. According to Brent Clements, executive director of the ~lississippi Soccer Association, some 23,000 kids 1l1at hasn't translated into much interest in the sport at tll( high school level in most of east central Misgi~­ sippi, how1:ver. Of East Central Community College's five-county di:::.trid . "nly three high schools (Neshoba Central, ewtnn County, and Philadelphia) compete in the sport. Its not much better for East Mh.;sissippi Commt: r1ity ColleJre. are playing in youth leagues this year. That's 10,000 more than 10 years ago.

EMCC soccer coach Brian Bennett

"It's really hard on a year-in, year-out basis, but last year when we beat Gulf Coast that was big," Thompson said. "People don't realize it, but with what we were using, whenever we're able to beat teams like that it's big. "It's really challenging and I'm sure it is for (Bennett) - ----– also. One of our guys played a little bit as a youth, but he See Soccer Page 85

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