Women's soccer program adds 17 newcomers for 2019
The Holmes Community College women's soccer program has added 17 newcomers to next year's team, according to Associate Head Coach Wesley Noble.
"This year's recruiting class is an extremely well-rounded and big class that gives us a bit of everything," Noble said. "We are welcoming 17 excellent student athletes that are going to represent this school and program in the highest manner.
To say we are excited about this class would be an understatement. We feel like adding these players will really take us to another level this year. Being able to put this class with our returners is very exciting as a coach. I can't wait for them to all get to campus so we can get started! The (2019) season is going to be very fun!"
Lainee Chandler
Southaven, MS
Midfielder
Lainee lettered all 4 years in high school at Southaven. She served as captain of the team this past season. She was selected as a North MS All Star player as a Junior. She was also the captain of her competitive team for 4 years.
"Lainee is a player that can fill many roles inside of the team. She is very mobile, has a very high work ethic, clean on the ball, and extremely intelligent with her decisions. We are expecting Lainee to be a huge asset for our team from the beginning."
Hannah Dowty
Southaven, MS
Forward
Hannah was a part of the Southaven high team that won districts in 2017 – 2018. She has played club soccer for DC Galaxy where they won Presidents Cup twice.
"Hannah is a very dangerous left footed winger. She is able to beat players down the line and create a lot of havoc on the other team with her distribution and ability to strike the ball. We are very excited about what Hannah will bring to our team this year."
Cariel Ellis
Madison, MS
Forward
Cariel has attended both Pearl and Madison Central High School. At Pearl, she was named Most Valuable Player. She currently has scored 23 goals for Madison Central and is the team's leading goal scorer. She was just recently selected to the Miss High School All Star Game. She grew up playing club soccer in the Rush organization and currently plays for IFC.
"Cariel is a dominant forward with extreme strength and athleticism. On top of that, she is very good in possession which fits our style of play very well. We expect Cariel to come in and be one of the top scorers in the league. She is a special talent and is going to be very successful at Holmes."
Jocelyn Fernandez
Navarre, FL
Midfielder
Jocelyn is center midfielder from Navarre High School who competes for the district championship every year. She has played club soccer for RAD FC and Bayside Dynamo in Florida.
"Jocelyn does a fantastic job of connecting the back line and the forwards with one another. She is very good at playing in tight areas and being able to relieve pressure. I think she will do very well for us being able to distribute to the players around her. She will create numerous opportunities for us as a team. We are very happy to be getting Jocelyn for the 2019 season."
Maddie Floyd
Hallsville, TX
Midfielder
Maddie comes from Hallsville High School where she is the captain of the team. While at Hallsville, she has been awarded 1st Team All District, Midfielder of the year, and 2nd Team All East Texas. She has grown up playing club for FC Dallas.
"Maddie is your ideal defensive midfielder. She is excellent in possession, extremely intelligent, and can open up a game by changing the point of attack quickly. She is an asset on the defensive side of the ball as well. She always tends to put herself in a good position to win tackles. We think Maddie will be a great addition in our midfield this year."
Cameron Gladney
Clinton, MS
Midfielder
Cameron was awarded Most Valuable Midfielder in both 2016 and 2017 for her high school program and helped lead them to two district championships. Most recently Cameron was selected as a Mississippi High School All Star. She has played club soccer for MS Rush, International Futbol Club, and Brandon Futbol Club growing up and has competed in Region 3 Championships multiple times.
"Cameron is a player that everyone would want in their midfield. She is extremely smart, crafty on the ball, great pace, and can create opportunities for herself and other players at a very high level. I think Cameron is really going to fit our style of play and will make an immediate impact for our program."
Liz Jackson
Ridgeland, MS
Defender/Midfielder
Liz plays numerous positions for Ridgeland High School and serves as the captain of the team. She was selected as the most valuable midfielder her junior season. As a senior, she has the lead the team with the most goals, 15. Most recently she was selected as a Mississippi High School All Star. She has played club soccer in the MS Rush organization growing up.
"Liz is a very good athlete that understands the game well. She will be key for us in the midfield and in our backline. She is able to ping a ball and open up the game whenever she needs to. Her ability to win tackles sets her apart. I believe she will be a key component to our success next season."
Savannah Lewis
Richland, MS
Defender
Savannah has played for Richland high school since her 7th grade year. The team has seen much success in those years such as 2 North State Championships, 2 North State Final appearances, and a district championship. Savannah was awarded 2nd team all-district as a freshman and 1st team all-district her sophomore and junior season. As a senior, she led the team in scoring with 9 goals. Most recently she was selected as a Mississippi High School All Star. She has played club soccer for Brandon Futbol Club and Mississippi Rush.
"Savannah is a very aggressive defender. She is exceptional in 1v1 situations and is able to organize a backline in the flow of the game. She is very good with the ball at her feet being able to pick out opportunities for her team to get forward. We think Savannah will have the opportunity to come in and make a huge impact from the beginning. It will be very enjoyable to watch her take her game to the next level."
Jesika Patterson
Pearl, MS
Defender
Jesika has been an anchor on the backline for Pearl High School for several years now. In 2017, she was awarded most valuable defensive player. The team saw the most success in 2015 when they won the South State Championship. She has played in the MS Rush organization growing up where her team made it to the semifinals in president's cup regionals. Most recently Jesika was selected to the Central MS All Star game.
"Jesika can fill any role on the back line. She excels as an outside back or center back with her strength and athleticism. You always want defenders who will get stuck in, and that is exactly what she does. As her game evolves she will become an important player for our program."
Casey Rhone
Senatobia, MS
Midfielder
Casey was awarded with the Best Offensive player award twice, as well as the leadership award. She serves as the captain of her team and was named all-conference as a junior for Senatobia High School. She led her teams in points this year as a senior with 18 goals and 14 assists. She plays club soccer in the LOBOS organization.
"Casey is probably the most versatile player that we have coming in. I feel confident that she could excel in multiple places on the field. Having a player who can do this is extremely useful to any team. She is a coaches' kid and you can tell by her knowledge of the game and work ethic. We are very eager to watch Casey excel at the next level."
Kennedi Richardson
Clinton, MS
Goalkeeper
Kennedi comes from Clinton High School where she serves as the starting Goalkeeper. Her team saw much success this year ending the season with a 16-4-3 record. Kennedi plays club soccer for IFC of MS.
"Kennedi is extremely athletic and quick. She covers space very well and makes a lot of the 'impossible' saves. I think her ceiling is very high and we can't wait to watch her progress as she works with our Goalkeeper Coach on a day to day basis. Kennedi will have the opportunity to make an impact as soon as she steps onto campus."
Reagan Savell
Brandon, MS
Midfielder
Reagan has helped her high school to two district championships, one south state championship, and one state championship. During her time at Park Place Christian Academy she was awarded offensive MVP and All District four years in a row. She posted 17 goals and 34 assists in her senior season. She plays club soccer for Brandon Futbol Club.
"Reagan is a student of the game. She sees the game very well and is able to execute her decisions extremely fast. She plays very simple in the midfield but is always effective. Reagan is going to be a perfect fit into our system this year."
Laney Smith
Vicksburg, MS
Forward
Laney is a standout player from Warren Central High School. Laney has posted 25 goals and 14 assists in the past 3 seasons with the Vikings. She has won numerous awards such as 8th grade – rookie of the year, 9th grade – Most Valuable Player, 10th grade – Offensive MVP, and 11th grade – Most Valuable Player. Most recently she was selected as a Mississippi High School All Star. She has grown up playing for MS Rush where her club team has won state cup and Final Four. She has competed in both National Premier League Finals as well as USYS Regionals.
"Laney is a very dynamic player with an extremely high work rate. She is very dangerous as a winger but can also help in possession when she is slid into the midfield. Her athleticism and motor allow her to cover a lot of ground during a game. We are extremely excited about what Laney brings to the 2019 Lady Bulldogs!"
Bailey Thompson
Pelahatchie, MS
Forward
Bailey comes from East Rankin Academy where she received multiple honors such as All MAIS South Division, All Conference, 1st Team All District, and Selected into the MAIS All Star Game. Between her Sophomore and Senior Seasons, Bailey racked up 94 goals. She has played club soccer with Brandon Futbol Club, Brilla Juniors, and MS Rush.
"Bailey is the most underrated player in the state of Mississippi in my opinion. She is an unbelievable finisher and her athleticism is fantastic. As her game evolves, she is going to become a big-time player for our program. We can't wait to see what all she accomplishes as a Lady Bulldog."
Mackenzie Thompson
Pelahatchie, MS
Midfielder
Mackenzie finished up her high school career in 2017 where she was a standout player. She was selected to the All MAIS South Division Team, All Conference Team, 1st Team All District, and MAIS All Star Selection. She has played soccer for the MS Rush Organization.
"Mackenzie is coming back to soccer after a 2-year break and I couldn't be any more excited. She is an exceptional player that is very creative and can control the pace of any game. She is going to give us a dimension of play that we do not currently have. I think she has a very bright season ahead of her this year."
Carly Williams
Brandon, MS
Goalkeeper
Carly currently plays at Northwest Rankin High School where they have been to back to back state finals and won the 6A Championship in 2017. Carly has played club soccer with Brandon Futbol Club, IFC of MS, and MS Rush.
"Carly has unbelievable technique in the goal. She is very sure handed and covers angles very well. The biggest thing that sets Carly apart is her mindset; she is a gamer. On multiple occasions, I have watched her step in big moments for whichever team she is on. We are excited to watch her grow into an even better keeper during her time here."
Ravyne Wilson
Meridian, MS
Forward/Midfielder
Ravyne has been awarded numerous awards during her time at Clarkdale High. She has been a 1st team all-district selection since her 7th grade year, most valuable player her junior year, and a Premier Prep selection her sophomore and junior season. In her junior season she scored 33 goals with 9 assists and set the single season scoring record for the school. Most recently she was selected as a Mississippi High School All Star. She has played club soccer for Alliance FC, Brandon FC, IFC of MS, and BUSA ECNL.
"Rae Rae is a dangerous player that is extremely good around goal. She not only finishes well, but creates a lot of opportunities for her teammates. Her ability to compete in the air truly sets her apart. I think she will bring a creative sense to our team that will help us be unpredictable at times. We are thrilled to have Rae Rae as a Lady Bulldog."
To see photos of this year's class, go to https://www.holmesathletics.com/sports/wsoc/2018-19/photos/0003/index.