STARKVILLE — Courtney Robicheaux knows what it feels like to be counted on.
In her first three seasons with the Mississippi State women’s soccer team, Robicheaux has been a constant on the field. In that time, she learned valuable lessons from more experienced teammates and grew into a key piece of the Bulldogs’ defense.
This season, Robicheaux hopes to take what she has learned and to pass it on to a young team that features five seniors, 15 freshmen, and three transfers on its 29-player roster. The Bulldogs will have to find a way to replace the leadership and production lost due to the graduation of Mallory Eubanks and Catalina Perez.
Robicheaux said she is prepared to handle that challenge.
“I have always been a lead-by-example person, and these past two years I definitely have had to get better at leading vocally,” Robicheaux said. “That was a main area of growth for me. I worked at it all year and I think I have gotten better.”
Robicheaux, a 5-foot-5 defender, appeared in 16 games last season (16 starts) and was sixth on the team in minutes (1,446). She scored three goals and had six points. Robicheaux also was part of a defense that allowed only 19 goals.
Perez, a goalkeeper, was a primary reason for the defensive prowess. She earned first-team All-SEC and All-Southeast Region (United Soccer Coaches) and third-team All-America honors. She and Eubanks, who became MSU’s highest selection in the history of the National Women’s Soccer League draft when the Washington Spirit selected her with the 16th overall pick (second round, sixth pick), played integral roles on a team that finished 9-5-4 (2-5-3 SEC) in 2017. The record snapped a string of seven-straight losing seasons.
Anagnost will count on Robicheaux to anchor a defense that has only three returning players with experience. Sophomore Kristen Malebranche appeared in 12 games (11 starts) and Sam Blanchard appeared in 15 games (nine starts) last season.
“If you don’t have strong senior leadership the team won’t do well, so how much am I hoping (Robicheaux can be a leader for the younger players)? The highest level,” Anagnost said. “I believe she is willing, which is great.”
MSU also will feature a goalkeeper who didn’t play a minute for the Bulldogs in 2017. Redshirt senior Rhylee DeCrane and freshmen Peyton York and Heloise Ralambosoa, who is from France, will compete for minutes. Last week, Anagnost said it likely would take two more weeks for Ralambosoa to arrive because she was sorting out visa issues.
Robicheaux started 17 games as a freshman and 18 as a sophomore, so she is accustomed to being a fixture on the field. She said she considers herself more of a lead-by-example player, but she hopes to become more of a vocal presence to help the Bulldogs build on their success in 2017.
Anagnost feels Robicheaux, who is versatile enough to play central defender or a wing defender, can flourish in that role.
“I believe in her,” Anagnost said. “I think she will do whatever she can to lead the team.”
Robicheaux senses a greater responsibility to have a bigger voice and to take on leadership roles in every aspect. She understands the turnover on defense could push her into new role and that she likely will have to adjust to the tendencies and personalities of new defensive players. That doesn’t bother Robicheaux.
“I think we’re looking really strong,” Robicheaux said. “We have a couple of freshmen that can come in and help us, and we have a lot of speed and athleticism in the back, so I think we’re going to be pretty strong.”
As for where she fits in, Robicheaux isn’t sure if she will play in the center of the field or out wide. The position doesn’t matter, either, because Robicheaux is primed and ready to be an impact player as a senior.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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