New Hope High School girls soccer coach Mary Nagy knew her team had some high expectations this season.
After all, the Lady Trojans played for the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state championship a season ago and had a bulk of that team scheduled to return.
However, any season can provide a series of ups and downs. Injuries and some players leaving the program to take jobs instead have reduced the depth. Still, veteran leadership has again put New Hope in the thick of the playoff race.
“Every season is new and unique,” Nagy said. “I am proud of the girls for all of their accomplishments. When you start the season, you start with high goals. It’s something different when you can reach those goals.”
New Hope will play host to Center Hill in a second-round playoff match Saturday. That contest is set for a 1 p.m. start at New Hope.
“We know how hard it is to compete for a state championship,” New Hope senior defender Kayla Smith said. “Anytime you win a playoff match, it’s like a huge relief. For the seniors, we have played together for a long time, so we don’t want our season to end.”
New Hope advanced with a 2-1 win over Saltillo Tuesday night in the opening round of the playoffs. The Lady Trojans trailed for more than 60 minutes in the match. New Hope eventually scored the equalizer in the 61st minute. The Lady Trojans took the victory 4-3 on penalty kicks.
“Our experience was really important in that match,” New Hope senior defender Bethany Vaughan said. “We have played together a long time, so pretty much everybody knows what everybody else is doing before they do it. Communication is really the key on the backline. That can be the difference between winning and losing. It’s important to communicate and have everybody on the same page.”
While Saltillo was the more aggressive team in the opening half, strong backline play from Smith, Vaughan and senior Abby Wilson proved huge. Junior keeper Mackenzie Harvey also excelled in goal.
“We knew we would have some more chances on offense,” Wilson said, “Saltillo had some good speed and they were playing at home. We had to match their intensity.”
Nagy knew experience would prove vital as her squad entered the playoff portion of their schedule. Placing second in the region by Germantown, New Hope had to travel in the opening round. However, the Lady Trojans were not in unfamiliar territory.
In four of the past five seasons, New Hope has opened the playoffs with an extra-time victory. Last season’s win over Oxford kick-started a run to the finals.
“I always had some confidence,” Nagy said. “I looked like out there and we were playing a lot of fifth- and sixth-year players. It’s a big deal when you have that much experience on the field. As the match wore on and we got closer to the end, I had confidence because these players have been in these types of situations before.”
Center Hill also advanced in similar fashion with a penalty-kick win over Vicksburg.
“In the playoffs, you know you are going to play really good teams,” Wilson said. “You have to dig deep and believe in yourself and your teammates.”
Nagy knows her squad’s chances increase by playing at home.
“We are looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd at home,” Nagy said. “The girls have put a lot of time and effort into the season. This is what you play for. Hopefully, we can build on the momentum from Tuesday night.”
The New Hope-Center Hill winners plays either Lewisburg or Germantown Tuesday for the North State Class 5A championship.
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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