To say that the expectations are high for the Mississippi State women’s soccer team this year is an understatement. After three years of solid improvement under head coach Neil McGuire and an SEC Western Division Championship last year, the team is heading into the fall focused and intent on furthering their post-season play. This year’s squad has depth, talent, speed and all the necessary tools to become a serious contender for an SEC crown and beyond. Head coach McGuire highlighted the team’s physical condition and desire as aspects that will help them continue their success. He said, “The girls’ summer conditioning program went better than even I had planned; I think they came in fitter than they had ever been. Almost everyone either beat or came close to their personal bests in fitness. Just that motivation and enthusiasm that the team has is pushing us forward right now.”
McGuire said he feels it is a big advantage for the team to be able to come into the season already in such great shape. He said, “I think we are ready to take on any team right now simply because we are in such good condition. You can practice harder and longer, and that means we can do more things on the field.”
Offensively, the team will be in great shape this year with a number of returning and incoming players poised to see playing time. The two big-name returnees are sophomores Jessi Moore and Amy Van Zandt. The dynamic duo up front set a number of school records last year, and both ranked in the top three of the SEC in scoring. Behind them is senior Jessica Kauffman, as well as several younger players who made their mark in the scrimmage last weekend.
Moore also noted the team’s fitness level and said she felt that being in such good shape is important. She said, “As much as we probably don’t like the fitness, it’s very important in terms of the game. Coach (McGuire) has been really tough and demanding on us, and I think we have responded well. That really makes a huge difference because we can just work on things on the field instead of getting in shape.”
Kauffman said the team is further ahead at this point in the season than in the previous years she has been with the squad. She said, “From seeing the past three years and then this year there is no comparison. We are so much further ahead this year. The work ethic is unbelievable.
“Nobody likes to do fitness every day, but this will help us when we get into the tougher games.” She also said she feels that the team’s maturity will help them along. “We are kind of young,” Kauffman said, “but I think we have a lot of respect for each other and we are able to talk to each other and help each other.”
When Kauffman got here four years ago, the team was nowhere near where it is now in terms of success. She said it is that improvement that has made it more rewarding to be a part of the team. She said, “Sometimes people ask why would you want to go to a program that is down at the bottom. I think it is a privilege to say that I started that and that the success has come from my class and classes after me. We have exceeded any expectations the past two years, and it is an unbelievable feeling.”
The midfielder position is also looking good with a wealth of talent, both old and new. Veterans April Berry, Becca Edwards and Amber Rose will be joined by super freshmen Heather Ammann and Betty Ann Casey. Speedster Leslie Nickles will see some time at the position as well as striker, and junior captain Sam Schwenke will add leadership and depth at the position.
Defensively, last year’s leading minute-getter, Morgan McDonald, is returning. Veteran stopper Amber Meesey will join her in the rotation, with a host of other players getting a chance to step up. Twenty-game starter Krystal Werges returns in net for the ‘Dawgs, and Gatorade Player of the Year newcomer Courtney Hubert will be there as well.
Perhaps the best quality this team has is their chemistry. As with any team, it doesn’t matter how much talent they have if they are not able to use it effectively as a group. This team works hard on being able to work as one.
Schwenke said, “We sit down before the beginning of the season and talk about the goals we have and where we want the program to go. We pick out words like ‘attitude’ and ‘focus’ and ‘intensity’ and work on those until everyone feels that we have achieved them. It will take a lot of work to get to the NCAA tournament but I think this is the year we can do it.”
Coach McGuire knows that what the team has is special and enjoys working with such a close group. He said, “We work on team chemistry every minute of every day with this group. I think the chemistry within this core group of players is better than any team I’ve ever coached, and I am proud to be their coach for that reason. No matter what we throw at them, they are there for each other to pull each other through.”
This team is good. That is all there is to it. They have already done more than any other team at MSU, but like all great teams they want more. Their goals of winning an SEC crown and making it to the NCAA tournament are something they focus on every day. Just watching a practice, one gets a feeling that something special is on the horizon for this team. To have a team with so much talent and depth, and then such good chemistry is a rarity in sports. While they will be overshadowed by football this fall, MSU fans need to notice what Coach McGuire and his troops are doing on the field this season.