STARKVILLE — Rylee Fisher had waited long enough.
Capable of lining up at striker, wing or defender for the Starkville Academy girls soccer team, the eighth grader plays a considerable role for the Volunteers despite being one of their youngest players.
But in her time with the varsity squad, Fisher still sought something more: a chance to score for the Vols for the first time.
So when she beat Columbus Christian Academy goalkeeper Lily Barlow in the 47th minute of Monday’s match at the Starkville Sportsplex, Fisher elicited by far the largest cheer of the night from her teammates and the fans scattered around the outskirts of the field.
“She’d been dying to have a goal for weeks now, so when she got it, it was like a kid in a candy store,” head coach John Morgan said.
Fisher’s goal — a relief for the eighth grader, she said — was the final blow for Starkville Academy as the Vols (7-3-1, 1-0 district) cruised to a 4-0 win over the Rams (0-4).
The eighth grader’s score followed three first-half tallies and was another sign of success for a Vols attack led by seniors Lauren and Kaitlyn Bock, Morgan said.
“What the Bocks are able to do for us up top is that it definitely lights a fire under that offense, and definitely helps us create more,” Morgan said. “But what’s great is that you have those young girls in the back who can come up, and they can make things happen just as well.”
On Monday, Fisher was the beneficiary of the Bocks’ ability to spread the field. The eighth grader’s shot from the left side of the field evaded Barlow’s dive and found the right side of the net.
“It just makes me feel successful, so it made me really happy,” Fisher said.
The Volunteers were happy, too, with another stellar defensive performance. Morgan pointed out that Starkville Academy has only allowed multiple goals in three of its 11 matches — once each against powerhouses Hartfield Academy and Presbyterian Christian and a bit of a blip against Starkville HomeSchool. Otherwise, it’s been smooth sailing for the Vols: Eighth grade goalkeeper Chandler Nettles was hardly needed Monday as Starkville Academy kept the ball on Columbus Christian Academy’s side of the field nearly all evening.
“Defensively, we’re looking incredible,” Morgan said.
The Vols have improved offensively, too. Morgan said he did some calculations before Monday’s match and found that Starkville Academy had scored more goals this season than it had at this point last year. Two goals Monday from Lauren Bock and one from junior Mia Kate Cade certainly helped.
“We’re trending in the right direction, and that’s where you want to be,” Morgan said. “You want to be better this year than you were last year, and right now, statistically, we’re there.”
It’s not just statistically, the coach said: The Vols communicated better than normal and made runs off the ball that Morgan hadn’t seen before.
He said the busy non-district schedule he put together — including Monday’s match — has helped prepare the Vols for another foray into district play. Starkville Academy will travel to Senatobia to play Magnolia Heights at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“That’s why you want all these games: Eventually, you’re going to kind of work some of those kinks out,” Morgan said.
Other scores
Volleyball
New Hope 3, Grace Christian 0
LOUISVILLE — The New Hope High School volleyball team beat Grace Christian School in straight sets on Monday in Louisville.
Set scores were 25-8, 25-8 and 25-15.
Daylyn Nettles led New Hope with nine kills, while Micaela Hudgins had seven and Madyson McBrayer had three.
Annie Woolbright led the Trojans with 15 assists, and Kensley Woolbright had 14 a team-leading digs
Hudgins had a team-high four blocks, while McBrayer had two. McBrayer and Annie Woolbright led the team with two aces each.
New Hope will host Starkville at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Starkville 3, Kosciusko 0
Starkville High School improved to 4-0 with a straight-set win over Kosciusko on Monday in Starkville.
Set scores were 25-10, 25-3 and 25-7.
The Yellow Jackets will play at New Hope at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Softball
Leake Academy 15, Starkville Academy 5
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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