MERIDIAN —
Competition gets under way today for the East Central Community College soccer squads who take on Copiah-Lincoln Community College in non-division match-ups starting at 2 p.m. on the Decatur campus.
East Central continues its homestand by entertaining Southwest Mississippi Community College on Tuesday. Game times are 2 and 4 p.m. The Soccer Warriors host Wallace State at 2 p.m. on Sept. 3.
ECCC soccer coach Kenneth Thompson said expectations are “very high” for successful campaigns as both squads prepare for a new season in a new division. For the first time, ECCC soccer teams are members of the MACJC North Division along with Holmes, Itawamba, Hinds and Northwest. The South Division includes Gulf Coast, Co-Lin, Southwest, Jones County and Pearl River.
“I’m impressed with the talent level of both teams, even though each squad is mostly composed of freshmen,” Thompson said. “Everyone is really working hard toward the same goal….which is to have a successful season.”
Defender Brooke Boulton is the top returnee for the East Central women. Boulton was an MACJC All-State selection and received the team’s Golden Boot Award. She is a product of Newton County High School.
Other sophomores include forward Laurel Burnett, a product of Neshoba Central High School; midfielders Monica Vincent and Jessy Harrison, and midfielder/forward Polly Vaughn, all products of Newton County High School; and defender Kathryn White of Northeast Lauderdale High School; and keeper Anna-Rose Blaylock of Newton County Academy.
Burnett was an All-District goalie and forward at Neshoba Central. Vincent, who received the Warriors’ hustle award last season, served as a team captain at Newton County in addition to receiving first team All-District honors. She also received the Cougar award. Harrison was also an All-District selection at Newton County and received most improved player and captain awards.
Freshman players include midfielder/forward Carrie Rushing, midfielders Laci Hand and Emily Lucy, defenders Nikki Cumberland and Cayla Engle and forward/keeper Wendy McCracken, all of Newton County High School; midfielder Kelsey Shaw, and defender Taylor Lynch and midfielder Kristen Grace Nettles.
Hand was an All-District selection and Lucy received the honor on three occasions. Cumberland also made All-District in addition to receiving most valuable defensive player and most improved awards. McCracken was chosen first team All-Division.
Midfielder Alejandro Chavez, an MACJC All-State selection in 2009, is the top returnee for the East Central men.
Other sophomores include defender Justin Huguet, forward Ben Stewart, midfielders Jackson Therrien of Newton County Academy, Joey Walker of Newton County High School, David Galvin, Zack Hutson, and keeper Micah McKee of West Lauderdale.
Stewart received the best forward award at Grenada. Walker served as team captain for the Cougars and received the Senior Award. Hutson was named best offensive player at McComb.
Freshmen include forwards Frederick Davis, Matthew Hill, Miguel Lewis, midfielders Josh Scafide, Miguel Medrano, Kyle Dunkerson and Aaron Scoggin, both of Newton County; Wayne O’Neal and Colby Fulton; defenders Erik Dries, Joey Lawn of West Lauderdale, Tyler Reeves of Newton County, Chris Johnson and Marshall White; forward/midfielder Jared Walker and keepers Chad Magnum and Jacob Scoggin of Newton County.
Scoggin twice received All-District honors and was named District MVP in 2009 and most valuable offensive player in 2008. He was also twice named the Cougars’ most valuable offensive player. Lawn was a second team All-District selection at West Lauderdale and received Rookie of the Year honors.
Sports
ECCC soccer squads host Co-Lin in season opener
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Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Eric Neel spent three seasons coach at East Central. The Hornets played in three state championship games.
Neel then coached the past three years at Wayne County, leading the War Eagles to three straight Class 5A fast-pitch state crowns.
And now, he doesn’t see why the same can’t occur at Quitman. After guiding Wayne County to its third straight championship Saturday, Neel resigned his position in Waynesboro on Thursday to replace Kacie Roberson at Quitman. -
Unexpected Honor
Winning a state championship, that Blake McMullen expected.
To be named the Player of the Year in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, that caught the Southeast Lauderdale senior off guard. -
RCA’s Lee and pair of Generals chosen for All-Star tilt
Russell Christian Academy senior Camryn Lee and Newton County Academy duo Clay Upton and Dillon Williams will wrap up their senior seasons today.
The local trio will play in the MAIS All-Star Class A game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson at 2 p.m. The Class AA-AAA game will follow. -
McFarland named first-team All-American for Jones County
The honors continue to come in for the Jones County Junior College softball program.
Pitcher Ginger Lonergan and centerfielder Relanda McFarland were both named to the NJCAA Division II All-American first-team on Thursday. -
A Family Affair
Five days. Two state titles. One family.
It’d be hard to find a family that had a better week than the one Robbi and Shay Cooper just experienced. -
Roundup — Stephens receives Sekul Award
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The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966. -
Ramey shines again, hurls Tigers to MHSAA Class 3A crown
The bar was set pretty high.
After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
Southeast wins MHSAA Class 3A Championsip
Slideshow from the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game between Southeast Lauderdale and Kossuth.
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Briarwood to host Emerald Coast Golf Tour in June
Professional golf is coming to Meridian.
The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will be holding the Meridian Pro-Am Classic at Briarwood Country Club June 26-29. - More Sports Headlines
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Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers

