Three seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, one freshman and one eighth-grader from seven area schools comprise this year’s Premier Preps of East Mississippi girls soccer team.  Through the different seasons, coaches nominate players from their teams, and the Star’s sports staff selects from the pool of nominees which players will make the squads. Here are a handful of numbers that defined this year’s soccer selections.

2: State All-Star selections 

Lady Bulldog representative Skylar Spears tallied 22 goals to go along with 16 assists during the season, and Lady Raider Darby Gillette accumulated 17 goals and 12 assists. Their dominance on the soccer field earned them coveted state All-Star selections. 

3: College-bound players

 Three Premier Preps selections will represent their alma mater at the collegiate level next season. Lamar School’s Darby Gillette will play for Southeastern Louisiana University; Neshoba Central’s Mara Shelton is headed to Meridian Community College and Clarkdale’s Skylar Spears will don a burgundy-and-yellow uniform next season for Pearl River Community College.

4: Two-time Premier Prep selections

While seven new faces are making their Premier Preps of East Mississippi debut, four of their counterparts are making their second consecutive appearance. West Lauderdale’s Ember Temple and Caroline Green, Neshoba Central’s Mara Shelton and Clarkdale’s Rae Rae Wilson are all back-to-back Premier Preps selections.

151: Goals scored

This year’s Premier Preps selections combined to score a total of 151 goals this year. West Lauderdale’s Ember Temple’s 30 goals led the pack, but Clarkdale’s Rae Rae Wilson and Southeast Lauderdale’s Tay Roberts weren’t far behind with 27 and 26 goals, respectively.

5: Playoff appearances

Clarkdale, Lamar School, Neshoba Central, Southeast Lauderdale and West Lauderdale all appeared in the playoffs this season, thanks, in part, to the contributions of their respective Premier Preps selections.

18: Shutouts posted by Kristin Hayes

Not many scores went by West Lauderdale keeper Kristin Hayes this year. In fact, the sophomore held opponents scoreless in 18 games. She ended the year with 93 saves, good enough for a No. 3 ranking on MaxPreps.com, and she allowed just 10 goals during the year.

 

2018 PREMIER PREPS GIRLS SOCCER TEAM

 

Skylar Spears

Forward

Senior 

Clarkdale

Why she’s here: Spears was a key player in Clarkdale’s strong season, in which the Lady Bulldogs finished 16-6-3 overall and 6-0 in Region 5-1/2/3A. She tallied 22 goals and 15 assists on the season, which earned her an All-Star selection. Also an All-Region selection, Spears will continue her soccer career at Pearl River Community College.

 

 

 

 

Caroline Green 

Midfielder

Junior 

West Lauderdale

Why she’s here: A second-year Premier Preps selection, Green finished the season with five goals and 11 assists to help the Lady Knights to a 22-2-2 season and their third straight appearance in the MHSAA Class 4A state championship game. She was named first-team All-Region at her position.

 

 

  

 

Ember Temple

Forward 

Freshman

West Lauderdale

Why she’s here: A second-year Premier Preps selection, Temple had another dominant season to help West Lauderdale to a 22-2-2 season and third-straight berth in the MHSAA Class 4A title game. Temple finished with 30 goals and 16 assists on the season, earning her a first-team All-Region selection and a Most Outstanding Offensive Player award in the division.

 

 

  

Mara Shelton 

Midfielder

Senior 

Neshoba Central

Why she’s here: A second-year Premier Preps player, Shelton started all 22 games for Neshoba Central, helping lead the Lady Rockets to the Region 3-5A championship. She finished with 10 goals and 13 assists on the season, earning her All-Region honors and MaxPreps Player of the Game accolades twice. Shelton will continue her soccer career at MCC.

 

 

  

Rae Rae Wilson 

Defender

Junior 

Clarkdale

Why she’s here: Although primarily a midfielder, Wilson’s versatility allowed Clarkdale to move her to defense when the occasion called for it, and she excelled there as well. Wilson finished the season with 27 goals and nine assists, earning her All-Region and MaxPreps Player of the Week accolades. She helped the Lady Bulldogs to a 6-6-3 overall and 6-0 record in Region 5-1/2/3A.

 

 

 

Tay Roberts 

Midfielder

Sophomore

Southeast Lauderdale

Why she’s here: Roberts was named Ms. Offense for Southeast Lauderdale the past two seasons. She finished with 26 goals and was selected to the All-Region 5-1/2/3A team. An electric offensive component for Southeast Lauderdale, Roberts scored four goals in four contests, and ended the year with seven multi-goal outings. 

 

  

 

 

Brynn Boutwell 

Midfielder

Junior

Newton County

Why she’s here: Boutwell was named Most Outstanding Midfielder in her region, and for good reason. She finished the season with 14 goals for the Lady Cougars, earning herself the offensive most valuable player award on her team. Boutwell’s 14 goals were a Newton County team-high. 

 

 

 

 

 

Railey Mayatt 

Defender

Sophomore

West Lauderdale

Why she’s here: Mayatt was named Region 4-4A’s Most Outstanding Midfielder and was also selected first-team All-Region. She helped the Lady Knights to a 22-2-2 season and their third straight appearance in the MHSAA Class 4A state championship game. Mayatt tallied three of West Lauderdale’s five goals against South Jones. 

 

 

 

 

 

Darby Gillette 

Midfielder

Senior 

Lamar School

Why she’s here: Gillette could often be found working with Lamar soccer coach Leon Powell outside of regular practice time, and the results showed. She finished the season with 17 goals and 12 assists, helping Lamar win its third MAIS Class AAAA, Division II state championship in a row. An All-Region and All-Star selection, Gillette will continue her career at SE Louisiana University.

 

 

 

 

 

Emilee Criddle 

Defender

Eighth Grade

Quitman

Why she’s here: Normally a sweeper for Quitman, Criddle nonetheless earned defensive most valuable player honors for her team thanks in large part to her 90 steals on the season. She is described by her coach as someone with natural talent who “eats, breathes and sleeps soccer.” Criddle tallied a season-high 11 steals against Southeast Lauderdale.

 

 

 

 

Kristin Hayes 

Goalkeeper

Sophomore

West Lauderdale

Why she’s here: Hayes is currently ranked No. 3 on MaxPreps.com with 93 saves and 10 goals allowed to help lead West Lauderdale to a 22-2-2 season and their third straight appearance in the MHSAA Class 4A state championship game. Hayes was named to the Region 4-4A first team. Hayes posted 18 shutouts in 26 games this season.