With his squad healthy again, Starkville Academy girls soccer coach Robert Gardner looks forward to the Volunteers” season-ending push.
The Volunteers played their next-to-last non-region match Thursday and earned a 12-0 victory against archrival Heritage Academy at the Starkville Sportsplex.
“The season has had its ups and downs,” Gardner said. “However, we are definitely getting better. The key is staying healthy. We lost two players our first week of the season. It has taken a long time to get them back in the lineup. The goal was to have everybody back for region play.
“If we can stay healthy the rest of the way, we can definitely make a push.”
With the victory, Starkville improved to 4-2, while Heritage Academy fell to 1-6. The Volunteers” latest victory came three weeks after an 8-0 win against the Lady Patriots, and enabled them to sweep the season series.
Sallie Kate Richardson, Payton Allen, Tiffany Huddleston, and Hannah Huddleston each scored two goals. Haze Miller and Jordan Jackson also scored for Starkville.
“I wanted to step up and be more of a leader for the team this year,” said Allen, the team”s leading scorer. “I have been playing since seventh grade, so I feel like I have something to give to the team. That is what I want do as a senior: To try my best to help the team any way possible.”
The Volunteers are finding a rhythm on offense. Thursday”s win came on the heels of a 14-0 victory against Copiah Academy on Tuesday.
“We have a strong defensive team,” Gardner said. “We have gotten better at our ballhandling. Our offensive punch has improved, too. The return of some of our stronger offensive players is also a big plus.”
Richardson celebrated her return to the lineup with three goals Tuesday against Copiah Academy. Huddleston was the other injured player. Each returned for their first extensive playing time against Copiah Academy.
“I think we have been working hard at practice and we have been passing the ball a lot better this year,” senior midfielder Bailey Clark said. “I think we are connecting more and it helps us with our passes and getting down the field. When we pass better, it”s easier to move down the field and make a goal.”
Said Gardner, “Even though the team is made up of mostly juniors, it is still an experience teamed. These girls have played together for several seasons. They have learned to play well together.”
A year ago, the Volunteers (9-7-1) suffered a heart-breaking double-overtime loss to eventual state champion Presbyterian Christian in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. In this year”s first matchup between region foes, Presbyterian Christian took a 5-0 win in Hattiesburg. The rematch will be Sept. 26 in Starkville.
Thanks to the victory against Copiah Academy and the loss to Presbyterian Christian, Starkville Academy is 1-1 in region play.
“I thought the effort was good Thursday,” Gardner said. “We played the entire roster, so I was happy with that. Some of the girls who maybe don”t get as much time put in a good shift and a good performance today. I”m pretty pleased with the performance. Twenty-five players played today, so I was pleased with everybody.”
Now Starkville Academy can turn its attention to the stretch run.
“With six more region games, we have the bulk of our season still ahead,” Gardner said. “That is why we were treading water until we got all of our pieces back. Now that everyone is healthy, we are excited about what lies ahead. We have to stay determined and keep working hard. If we do that we will have a chance to have a very successful season.”
Starkville Academy will return to region play Tuesday when it plays host to Jackson Prep. The final non-region match will be Wednesday at Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
Heritage Academy returns to Class AAA, Region I play Sept. 20 at Magnolia Heights.
n Manchester Academy 1, Immanuel Christian 0: At Yazoo City, The Lady Rams (7-1) suffered their first loss of the season Thursday.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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