STEENS — The bar has been raised.
A loss in the first round of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Division II tournament gave the Immanuel Christian girls soccer team a taste of the postseason in 2010.
With nearly the entire roster returning, coach Ray Campbell”s squad is focused on taking the next step, and it welcomes the expectations that accompany setting a goal that high.
“We worked really hard in the summer on conditioning and on ballhandling skills,” senior Tori Fitzgerald said. “I think we can come back and top what we did last year because we do have talent.”
Immanuel Christian will take its first test Saturday when it faces Heritage Academy and Indianola Academy in a jamboree. The regular season kicks off at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Marshall Academy.
Fitzgerald, junior goalkeeper Taylor Kidder, and halfback/midfielder Meghan Cooper will be three leaders Campbell will look to help the team fill in for the losses of Taylor Baudoin, who opted not to play soccer this season to focus on basketball, and Haley Good.
“It is our senior year and we want to the playoffs and there is one team we haven”t beaten since we have had a soccer program, and that is what I really want to do this year,” Fitzgerald said of Indianola Academy. The teams play Sept. 13 at Indianola and Sept. 19 in Steens.
Campbell feels the Lady Rams have the potential to get back to the playoffs and to do more because younger players have matured and improved to give the team greater depth. He said not losing any seniors from last season”s team has helped Immanuel Christian pick up where it left off.
“We have some add-ons that will help us,” Campbell said. “I feel pretty comfortable because we have most everybody coming back. Shooting for the playoffs is a pretty high mark.”
Campbell anticipates moving Cooper to different positions this season to capitalize on her strength and shooting ability. He also will look to Kidder and Fitzgerald to be anchors for the defense.
Campbell also will look to Hannah Imes, an improved player who was a substitute last season, to play a bigger role.
Campbell said a key will be the players” ability to work together. He said the Lady Rams always have used all used all of their talents to move forward. He said not having to rely on one player to carry most of the load will help push all of the players to compete for playing time.
“I think we”re going to spread it around this year and see numerous goals by numerous people,” Campbell said.
Not that the players will lose sight of their goal. Fitzgerald said Campbell has reminded everyone of what the team wants to accomplish every day in practice. She said the players are very well aware of when they don”t give Campbell what he wants.
As a result, Fitzgerald said the veterans have been motivated to set the tone for the younger players, which she ultimately feels will help the squad reach its goals.
“During practice (Monday) it was so hot and we just kept going,” Fitzgerald said. “They see the dedication all three of us (Kidder and Cooper) put into it (and want to do the same).”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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