CALEDONIA — Yes ma”am, good things are happening for New Hope High School girls soccer.
If last season was a starting point, coach Mary Nagy hopes the Lady Trojans can keep building to bigger and better things.
New Hope did just that on a frigid Tuesday evening, getting goals from Reagan Hern and Maria Bergdal in a 2-0 victory against Caledonia.
The Lady Trojans (7-1) also used solid contributions from Sarah Hern, Demi Menotti, Brittany Walker, Bridget Tedford, sweeper Anna Holley, and goalkeeper Brandi Brantley to keep up their hot start to the season.
“These girls have worked since June lifting weights, running, and conditioning,” Nagy said. “Their work ethic has been phenomenal. I could not have asked for more. There has been no drams. That has been the biggest thing. They all get along. I have 15 or 16 girls who can start. They don”t whine and pout when a different set of girls starts. They all know their time is coming.”
Nagy said the depth and willingness of the players to work together have been keys. She didn”t imagine the team would fare so well, though, especially not having forward Effie Morrison, the team”s leading scorer last season. Nagy said Morrison, who played in the junior varsity match earlier in the evening, is recovering from a broken collarbone she suffered in the Tupelo Tournament. She said Morrison should be able to help the team be even more dangerous on offense as she regains her form.
“We took a big hit when we lost Effie, but other girls have stepped up,” said Nagy, whose team advanced to the playoffs last season for the first time after a lengthy absence. “I am really proud of the way they have just taken over and have performed.”
New Hope, whose only loss was last weekend to South Pontotoc after a program first victory against Starkville and another win against the Mississippi School of Math and Science, controlled the midfield in the first half. The pressure resulted in a throw-in for Sarah Hern on the right side that Menotti pressured and Reagan Hern cleaned up for the game-winning goal.
Menotti, Sarah Hern, and Walker worked together on a buildup that led to a shot by Bergdal that deflected off goalkeeper Sarah Freeman”s hands for an insurance goal.
Caledonia coach Jason Forrester, whose team slipped to 2-6-1, was pleased with his team”s performance in the second half. Without any seniors, Forrester said his team is still finding the right places for everyone. He also said junior Carlee Gurley, who played Tuesday as a substitute, is working back from an ankle injury.
On Tuesday, the Lady Trojans had the better of the play in the first half, winning the majority of the possession and being first to 50-50 balls. That turned in the second half as the Lady Confederates had a 6-3 edge in shots. Unfortunately, the team”s best scoring chances by Kailey Lavender went over the crossbar and trickled just wide of the right post.
“The second half was so much better,” Forrester said. “The first half was pretty good. The keeper (Freeman) palms a ball, and she is mad at herself for that, and the second one was a defensive breakdown they took advantage of.”
Peyton Stanley also teamed up front with Lavender to apply more pressure in the second half. Forrester said his players need to play like they did in the second half for 80 minutes if they want to reverse their fortunes once district play begins.
“The first half it was kind of like we were waiting for something bad to happen,” Forrester said. “That first goal happened and we started to play a little better and to step up a little bit. Then we got a little tired and then that second goal happened, and it was kind of like, ”Oh man.”
“The second half they straightened themselves out and picked up their intensity and played a lot better.”
In the boys game, Kevin Kugel scored two goals in his first game back from an injury to lead Caledonia to a 7-1 victory.
Kugel, was injured while attempting a field goal in a game against Houston on Oct. 8. Kugel”s father, Kevin, who is a para-professional coach of the team this season with Armando Saraiva, said a Caledonia player was blocked into his son. Fortunately, he said, Kevin had his leg turned to the side, which prevented a more serious injury.
Kevin Kugel cleaned up a loose ball to score his first goal to help the Confederates (7-2) take a 4-0 halftime lead. He scored his other goal off a nice give-and-go with Brandon Webber.
Josh Kugel, Nick May, Stefan Naumann, and Seaton Cox also scored for Caledonia. Kevin Kugel had an assist on Cox”s goal. Josh Kugel”s goal came off a header following a corner kick.
Caledonia, which has lost only to New Albany and to Starkville, also scored an own goal.
Josh McKay scored for New Hope, which had a scoring opportunity early in the match roll just wide of the post. Caledonia goalkeeper Matt Gresham also came up with two stops on a flurry in the goal box in the first half to help the Confederates keep control.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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