CALEDONIA — Anna Albritton admits she is like most coaches in that she always is looking for a little more.
Whether it’s additional combination play or more one- and two-touch teamwork in possession, Albritton may never get the “perfect” game.
But the Starkville High School girls soccer team has given its coach plenty to be pleased with in the first part of the 2011-12 season. It continued its maturation Saturday with a 2-0 non-district victory against Caledonia.
“We got sloppy,” Albritton said. “I think our conditioning contributed to a little bit of sloppy play, but we did dominate with the possession, but we are struggling with finishing. That is our biggest thing.”
Sophomore Noa Hardin and freshman Avery Cohen scored in the first and second half, respectively, to help the Lady Yellow Jackets shake off a winless trip to the Ridgeland tournament last weekend.
Starkville used strong combination play throughout the match to win the battle of possession. It held an 18-1 edge in shots largely thanks to a balanced attack that relied on the midfield (Carolina Berryhill), the defense (seniors Jennifer Henderson and Christine Mazzola), and forwards (Hardin).
“I am a coach and I want things perfect,” Albritton said. “I want every pass to be perfect and every pass to be crisp, but it is not going to be that way. They’re fine. They’re doing good at this part of the season. We need them to do really well in January. I think we’re getting there.”
Cohen teamed with Berryhill and Hannah Laird and Haley Jenkins for some fine combination play in the first half. The teamwork helped set up what proved to be the game-winning goal, as Laird won possession, held the ball, and sent the ball up through the middle. Hardin used her speed to evade a handful of defenders into the attacking third and beat goalkeeper Sarah Freeman (seven saves) to the lower right corner.
“She is a firecracker,” Albritton said. “Her personality matches her hair color (red). I put her up high because of her ball skills. I can put her anywhere on the field and she is going to produce.”
Cohen was dangerous on the left flank in the second half as the Lady Yellow Jackets (5-3-1) maintained pressure and helped hold the Lady Confederates without a shot. Jordan Wade and Lindsey Burton, who missed time in the first half after colliding with goalkeeper Camryn Dawkins, tried their best to win possession in the midfield and on the flank, but Starkville defended as a team just as well as it possessed the ball.
Albritton said she hasn’t been surprised by the fact that a team that has only four seniors possesses the ball as well as it showed Saturday. She credited the Starkville Parks and Recreation program for preparing the players for higher levels of play. The next step, she said, is improving the finishing.
Cohen’s goal off a scramble in the box gave Starkville the insurance it needed and helped Dawkins, a seventh-grader, notch the shutout.
Caledonia coach Jason Forrester, whose team was coming off a 7-1 win against West Point on Friday, was pleased with his team’s showing in the quick turnaround. The Starkville-Caledonia High boys game was canceled due to the absence of a number of CHS players.
The Caledonia boys beat West Point 10-1 on Friday night.
Forrester said his players had a good showing on a wet field. In a district with state title contenders Amory and Pontotoc, Forrester said he scheduled the game against Starkville in an effort to show his team what it needs to do to prepare itself for the stretch run.
“Starkville is good competition for us,” Forrester said. “I love playing coach Albritton because it is always a good game. … They respect the game, they respect how it is played, and that makes us better.”
Forrester credited Starkville’s ability to possess the ball, much like his team did Friday night against West Point. He said his team will have to play more like Starkville did Saturday and raise its level to keep the ball away from teams like Amory and Pontotoc.
“That’s the main reason I tried to schedule this one for today, with Pontotoc next Friday, to get us ready for that,” Forrester said. “With us making the change to a more possession-style game instead of playing so direct, we have to play some better competition to get ready for that. Today, I believe helped us with that. Several of the girls made the comment, ‘Every time we touch the ball they are right there.’ That is part of it because our game was coming, but they have been doing it for a while and it is good to see it that way because we know how it is when we play it right.”
Forrester encouraged his team to back off defensively and cut down Starkville’s passing angles rather than use a high-pressure system. He feels his team is working to the point where it will have enough depth and versatility so he can mix and match strategies to keep opponents off guard. That maturation could be the next step to help Caledonia settle in to its possession attack and take the next step as a program.
“We’re getting there,” Forrester said. “We have some that are right where they need to be, but we have a couple when we sub them in that are still trying to think that old way. We’re working on it every day in practice. Before long , I’d say right here before Christmas, we ought to be just about where we want to be.”
Starkville will play Saturday in a girls-boys doubleheader at Louisville, while Caledonia will play Friday at Pontotoc.
n In other action, Ferris Bradley scored two goals Saturday to lead the New Hope High girls to a 2-0 victory against Columbus.
Karoline Rasmussen (off a corner kick) and Sam Vogel had assists, and Mary Margaret Swain had six saves to help the Lady Trojans improve to 5-1-3.
India Yaborough made seven saves for Columbus (3-6), which was playing without several starters, including senior captain Katie Proctor.
On Friday, the Columbus girls lost to Tupelo.
New Hope won the boys game 2-1.
Preston Taylor scored off an assist from Ricky Hackler for Columbus (3-6).
“We got down 2-0 and scored an unconventional goal full of heart,” Columbus coach Ben Moore said. “We still have several major players injured, but we’re still challenging teams and doing well. I am very proud of the boys.”
Jalen Parker made double-digits saves in goal for Columbus, which will play a girls-boys doubleheader at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at West Point.
Basketball
n Starkville Academy 49, Parklane Academy 37: At McComb, Anna Lee Little had 13 points to help the Lady Volunteers improve to 13-1.
Nora Kathryn Carroll and Sallie Kate Richardson each had nine points, while Tiffany Huddleston added six.
On Friday, Little had 19 points in a 68-31 victory against Copiah Academy. Carroll had 13, Richardson had 12, Peyton Scrivner had a season-high eight, and Brittany Jacks had six.
The Starkville Academy boys basketball team lost both games.
n Leake Academy 61, Immanuel Christian 60: At Madden, The Rams nearly won their Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA, Division 2 game on Friday without starting guard Darrius Jones, who left the game in the second quarter after suffering a head injury.
Jason Davis had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, Ross Moore had 17 points and three rebounds, and Christian Good had 13 points and six rebounds for the Rams (9-2, 4-1 division).
A.J. Johnston added six points and five rebounds for Immanuel Christian. Jones had four points when he was injured.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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