Lady Bulldogs ranked No. 20 in preseason poll

After finishing 2016 and 2017 as MACJC/Region XXIII runners-up and North Division champions both seasons, the 2018 Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs are working hard to keep the winning tradition going this season.

Associate Women's Head Coach Wesley Noble is extremely proud of how the team showed up for summer and preseason training.

"The preseason has been gone well for us," Noble said. "The ladies are training at a very high level after a successful summer and first week of preseason. The team came in extremely fit, and this has allowed us to dive in and hit the ground running."

The Lady Bulldogs return 13 players from last year's team, and Noble says they are serving as great leaders of the team.

"One player who has really stepped up is one of our center backs, Sarah Chastain," Noble said. "Her leadership has been outstanding and she was voted by her teammates to be team captain."

Eight of the 13 sophomores started in matches last season. Noble is expecting great things from goalkeepers Morgan McKinion and Bailey O'Connor, defender Brookelyn Cramer, midfielder Pepper Ann Filbert, forward Monica Stieh and midfielder Nikki De La Garza.

"Both of our goalkeepers are showing very well in preseason," Noble said. "Brookelyn will be a key component to our back line once again. She was an All-Region Selection last year. Pepper Ann, an All-State Selection, has come in to camp with a higher fitness level than she did last year, and it has really showed in her play. Monica and Nikki are two sophomores who really took their game to the next level over the spring and summer."

Twelve freshmen join the sophomores and have shown well in camp so far. "Our 12 freshmen have come straight in and raised the level immediately," Noble said "We are expecting really big things from these players especially on the attacking side."

Isabella Wade, Zoe Ellis, and Peyton Montgomery have shown they will be key components on the attacking side of the ball for the Lady Bulldogs. Kya Davis and Caseigh Hickman should see major amounts of playing time in the middle of the park as well.

Depth will be the strength of the team, Noble said. "We have multiple players fighting for multiple spots. This makes our training sessions extremely competitive. We also have a very athletic team this year with a great blend of players with extremely high soccer IQs. We are able to do things that we have not been able to in the past because of this."

The team is working hard learning the system. "Our organization is the main focus right now, both on the attacking and defensive end," Noble said "The more comfortable the girls get within our system and with one another, the quicker we will get to where we want to be." 

The 2018 Lady Bulldogs are the only Mississippi team ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll coming in at No. 20. "The preseason ranking is nice," Noble said. "This is the first time in program history to be ranked in a preseason poll. It is a great statement on what last year's team was able to accomplish. It has also instilled a bit of ownership in this year's team. They understand the standard and have used it as motivation during preseason."

"We have big and small goals that we are working toward," he added. "I feel like everyone focuses on winning a championship, because it is the ultimate goal. This year's team we are really focusing on the process of what it takes to get there.  We want to be dominant team that comes out and gets better each and every day. The little things are of the utmost importance this year. If we do that, then I think we will be successful and be able to compete for the North Division and MACJC Championship. It has been very pleasing to see that we are consistently taking those steps forward each day."