2006

ECCC soccer aims to improve East Central Community

few in numbers, Thompson said he was satisfied with the team's effort. ''The girls had a great atti– tude and always played with lot:.; of hustle," Thompson stat– ed. In analyzing the 2006 cam– paign, which begins at 2 p.m. Friday, August 25 against visit– mg · Mississippi Delta Community College, Thompson said the squad feature:.; a "good nucleus" of returning players and "some very talented fresh– men" coming in. Top returnees include All– State performer Maggie McDill, a midfielder from Newton County High School, who is also the top returning scorer; Celeste Burt, a for– wardlmidfielder from Neshoba Central; Chelsea Brown, a defender from Stone High; Brittany Harper, a midfield– erlkeeper from Southeast Lauderdale; and Kristina Moore, a forward from Enterprise. Thompson said he is "very pleased' with the 13 members of this year's freshmen class, many of whom came from teams that were involved in the high ,cbool playoffs last year.

The top first-year players include Brooke White, a mid– fielder from Florence High School, who was named to the All-State, All-District And All– Star teams. Thompson also mentioned Kimbo Seale, a defender from Clarkdale, "who will bring tons of speed to the team and is a strong defender able to challenge up the field as well." He also praised Newlon County High School products J ana Johnson and Katie Jackson. who will be "big assets" in the m1dfield. Rounding out the talented freshman squad are midfielder Lindsey Province, ' Neshoba Central; forwards Leslie Irby of Florence, Sierra Hinson of Southeast Lauderdale and Joste Bndges of Brandon; mtd– fielder/defender Skye Tindall, Newton County Academy; and defenders Chelcee Ta lbert of Enterprise, Chelsey Vincent of Newton County and Laura Smith of Neshoba Central. In analyzing the entire squad, Thompson said this year's version of Lady Warrior soccer \\;ll be a "more <:killed ' group and will hustle just as hard as last year's team." Student a:-~istants are Katie Corley of Carthage. Anse R: ~by of Forest, Mandy Holdiness of Louisville. and Kayla Hender:-on.

College's first \\omen·, soccer season began with a 5-0 win over rival East ~1ississippi Community Colleg-e and ended with the squad bein.., selected as the sport's N.JCAAAcademic Team of the Year. Although the Lady Soccer Warrior" could only muster two additional victories during its initial campaign in 2005, head coach Kenneth Thompson con– siders the first year a success. "We got the team off the ground, played competitively and even won a national award a lbeit for our academic prowe,;" I feel that the first season was one that the girls, the Ea~t Central famtly and I can look back on with pride," Thomp,.on :::tated. Thomp:::on ...aid the season– opening win over the Lady Soccer Lion::: wn.... a maJOr htgh– light of the 3-10 campmgn. ··E,•en though we were young and few in number, our girls were in top ~hape and played very well in the 5-0 win, which, ironically. wa~ the same score of the first e,·er men's ma tch back in 1999," Thompson said. Although the wins were al"o

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