STARKVILLE — Carly Mauldin never imagined she would play this big of a role as a freshman.
As one of 10 freshmen new to the Mississippi State women’s soccer team, Mauldin knew she was going to face plenty of competition. But the 5-foot-5 midfielder didn’t care if she was one of only six players from the state of Mississippi on MSU’s 25-player roster. Instead, the former West Jones High School standout took the opportunity she had to enroll early at MSU to set the stage for a memorable first season in Maroon and White.
So far, things are working out better than Mauldin expected.
“I didn’t know I was going to get this many minutes, but they told me I was soaking in everything they were saying, which I really tried to do,” Mauldin said. “They are a good coaching staff, so it helps hearing it from them and executing it at practice.”
Entering the third month of the season, Mauldin continues to prove she has adjusted well. The Laurel native leads MSU in minutes 1,033. She has started all 11 games and has helped solidify a defense that has allowed 12 goals. Last season, MSU allowed 42 goals.
Mauldin hopes to continue to provide solid play in her defensive midfield role at 7 p.m. Friday when MSU (3-5-3, 1-1-2 Southeastern Conference) plays No. 16 Texas A&M (9-3, 2-2) in College Station, Texas, in its only game of the week.
“In terms of value, I don’t have anybody like her on the team,” MSU coach Aaron Gordon said. “She can play two times 90. There is nobody who can cover the ground she cover or who can battle in the air and is tough on the tackle and good on the ball. She has some holes in her game, but if you look across the conference — and there are a lot of heralded players who have come in and have played on regional teams or with national teams — I would put her up against any midfielder who has come into the conference this year in terms of her value and her worth.”
MSU will try to build on the momentum of 0-0 and 1-1 double-overtime ties against Tennessee and Missouri last weekend. The points for tie draws moved MSU into a tie for eighth place in the league with Tennessee. Although it is still early, MSU is in position to qualify for the SEC tournament for the first time since 2004. The top 10 teams in the league will play in November in Orange Beach, Alabama.
For MSU to realize that goal, it will have to capitalize on its best weekend in SEC play since a 2-2 tie against Alabama on Sept. 30, 2011, and a 2-0 win against Auburn on Oct. 2, 2011. The Bulldogs went winless in the SEC in 2014 and 2013, and were 2-10-1 in the league in 2012.
Gordon said Mauldin is a big reason why MSU is playing so well and is on a four-game unbeaten streak. The run also includes victories at Lipscomb and Arkansas. The victory against Arkansas snapped MSU’s 23-game losing skid in the conference.
Gordon said Mauldin would be one of the highest-rated players — and top freshmen — in terms of ground covered, if that was a statistic that was charted. He said Mauldin has been the “engine” the Bulldogs needed. He said he saw signs she could fill that role in the spring season because Mauldin graduated early and enrolled in MSU at the start of 2015. Gordon said Mauldin responded in the right way from the spring experience.
“The spring is way different than the fall,” Gordon said. “It only gives you a taste of the physicality and the training. It doesn’t give you the sheer volume of the physical and mental fatigue you go through during the season.
“Carly responded in a way I felt like she would because I saw what an impact she was in the spring and that she just loves to play and she loves to compete and she wants to get better. She doesn’t look outwardly for people to solve her issues. She looks inwardly (and says to herself), ‘I have to get better at that, or I have to work on that.’ She is accountable. She doesn’t blame anybody. She is always what she can do for the team. She has been a great player. We’re very, very thrilled we got her.”
Mauldin said she always figured she would attend MSU. After all, her father, Lance, went to MSU. She said she has had aunts and uncles go to MSU and has cousins who attend the school. She said another cousin will come to Starkville next school year. Mauldin’s family connections have helped her build her own rooting section — Carly’s Corner — that has helped increase enthusiasm for games at the MSU Soccer Field.
Mauldin has given the fans plenty to cheer about with solid play. Even though she doesn’t have a point, Mauldin is responsible for helping to keep the Bulldogs organized in front of goalkeeper Tanya de Souza. She said the time she spent at MSU in the spring helped her adjust academically and on the field, where she said it was OK to make mistakes. Now that more of her first season is done, Mauldin has learned how to work hard in training to keep her spot. She said she has gained confidence from those first nervous days at practice.
“I have a big work ethic,” Mauldin said. “I am always willing to help others on and off the field. Just giving it my all for the team is what I try to do every time.”
Gordon said Mauldin is one of several key performers from Mississippi. He said Ocean Springs’ Khalyn Harmon (10 starts, 905 minutes) and Hattiesburg’s Kayleigh Henry (four, 478) are “finding their footing.” Madison’s McKenzie Adams had an assist Sunday on Kennadi Carbin’s goal that helped MSU tie Missouri.
New Albany’s Katelyn Watson also has started three games and played 531 minutes.
Gordon said his team’s confidence is high and that it has nothing to lose going to College Station, Texas, to play a team program that advanced to the Women’s College Cup last season. The Aggies are coming off back-to-back losses in the SEC for the first time as a member of the league. Texas A&M is a lot like MSU in that it has nine freshmen.
“I think what this month has demonstrated to our team is we belong in the league. I don’t think that was the case before. People were like, ‘Mississippi State is the doormat of the league. They don’t belong in the league. They are basically a match on the road to whatever team’s success or failure,’ ” Gordon said. “Now we have an opportunity to kind of forge our own path, really, and to determine our success or failure based on how we play. If we compete as we area capable of, we will have an opportunity to get a result in the game.”
Mauldin agrees because she has seen the strides the team has made since the spring.
“We’re trying to build on it and win more games instead of tying,” Mauldin said. “It’s little steps, and I feel it will come sooner or later. It might not be this season, but definitely next season I see us being a team that everybody fears.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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