University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Begins Preparations For 2005 Season
8/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Soccer Begins Preparations For 2005 Season
Head Coach Gail Macklin enters her second year at the helm of the Southern Miss soccer program. |
Junior Carly Barkley returns a team-high five goals to the team this season. |
HATTIESBURG, Miss.? The Southern Miss Lady Eagle soccer team hit the practice field for the first time today, beginning preparations for their 2005 season.
The players reported to campus on Wednesday and Thursday. The team will practice all week, before leaving Friday for a preseason contest at Texas A&M on Saturday.
The Lady Eagles scrimmaged Saturday afternoon and will scrimmage several other times this week, to get ready for Saturday?s preseason game. The team will practice two times each day this week. Head Coach Gail Macklin said the team is ready to get the season underway.
?We?re very excited to get started,? Macklin said, who enters her second year at the helm. ?We?re trying to get ready and cover all of our bases, installing both our offense and defense.
The scrimmages will be so important,? Macklin added. ?We?re trying to find out who is ready to play and who will show up. That?s what we are trying to determine this week. It?s going to be a good week of competition, both for playing time and starting positions. Nothing is set in stone. Every training session is about getting this team ready to play, and we will put the players on the field that are.?
With only one preseason game, Macklin said the Texas A&M contest will be crucial for the team?s success.
?We?re going to try several new things, and a new system,? Macklin said. ?Texas A&M is such a strong team and program, and they have a program that we expect to build here at Southern Miss. We?re exposing them early to great competition, while setting the tone for our season.?
Senior Micah Stephens is one of three seniors on this year?s team. The
?We have a lot of experience on this team,? Stephens said, who will miss the Texas A&M game recovering from surgery on her knee. ?It?s going to take a lot of leadership, especially from the seniors. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a team leader, and get this team to a winning season and a Conference USA Tournament berth.
?There is no reason why we can?t compete with any team we play,? Stephens said. ?Last season was frustrating. We will be much better this season.?
Southern Miss returns eight starters and 14 letterwinners from last year?s team that finished 5-11-1. Eight newcomers join the squad this season.
Junior Carly Barkley returns a team-high five goals and 12 points, while sophomore Megan Kolts returns two goals and a team-high three assists. Stephens, juniors Sarah Brennan, Andrea Kerkhoff, Kim Turner each return one goal to the team in 2005.
Southern Miss plays its only preseason contest at Texas A&M on Saturday at 8 p.m., before opening the season on Aug. 26 at home against Louisiana-Lafayette at 4 p.m.
