POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Few teams have been as consistent as the Pearl River men's soccer team over the span of the last three seasons. The Wildcats have now made three consecutive trips to the Gulf District Championship.
The message this year is simple — finish.
"Last year was challenging. We dealt with injuries all year long. With everything that piled up along the way, we went into the Region final with seven starters out of the game. We only lost 1-0 to one of the best teams in the country," head coach Drew Gallant said. "It wasn't how we wanted it to end, but it showed the kind of culture we have built here. We never want to have excuses. We always tell the guys that excuses are lies, so they know better than to make excuses.
"It was great to be back where we were, but it wasn't how we wanted to finish. We want to get back to the final this year, and we want to win it. We have to finish it this year."
The 2023 Wildcats are going to look different from last year's squad, as 12 new players have joined the squad and will have to be instant contributors.
"We lost so many players that are hard to replace from last year, but I think we did a really good job of recruiting and filling those roles," Gallant said. "There are certain players I don't think we could ever replace, but the players we brought in will have a good shot at doing it."
A staple of the PRCC soccer program under Drew Gallant, the Wildcats will base out of a 4-3-3 formation, but that's merely a suggestion or starting place.
"It starts in a 4-3-3, but it may look like a 3-2-5 at times. It's very fluid. We were talking tactical stuff with the guys a few days back, and I told them that we don't care where you finish as long as everyone is covered," Gallant said. "I told them not to think of themselves positionally but to think you should be able to go in and play wherever as the game flows."
Heading into the 2023 campaign, Gallant needs just nine wins to hit the 100-win plateau for his career.
FORWARD
The Wildcats will have plenty of options at the top of the formation, starting on the wings with Ian Graham (Meridian; Biloxi), Jason Irias (D'Iberville) and Joel Morales (Gulfport).
Graham will be a freshman in 2023, but Gallant and his staff have high expectations.
"Ian will play on the wings and some at center forward," Gallant said. "He's just a natural finisher and a kid that can finish with both feet. He's starting to come along with our defensive concepts. He's a grinder and works so hard. He's a driven player."
Irias missed all of the 2022 season while recovering from surgery, but in 2021 he collected three goals and an assist in 16 games played.
"Jason is back and will play up top and in the midfield. He's already scored some really good goals in preseason," Gallant said. "He's got some fitness stuff he's dealing with now. He'll be ready as soon as we get him 100 percent."
When talking about Morales, Gallant felt that he and center forward Tiago Honorio Jr. (São Paulo, Brazil; Zacarias Antônio da Silva) should be talked about as a pair.
"Joel and Tiago link up very well. It's like they've grown up and played with each other their entire lives," he said. "There's something natural between them with their playstyles. I think you'll see Joel score some special goals this year. Tiago's size hides the fact that he's so technical. People look at Tiago and think he's just going to be a ball-in-the-box center forward, and he's not. You don't realize how quick he is. He's such a good athlete and is so smooth in his play. He can be special for us."
A former DaCosta Cup Champion, Kristoff Graham (Clarendon, Jamaica.; Clarendon College), will be another option at center forward for the Wildcats.
"Kristoff is going to be a forward for us," Gallant said. "He's a rapid player and has had a national team camp call-up. He's going to be an instant difference-maker. He's very pacy, but with the skill and flair Andre (Nicholson) gave us the last few years."
MIDFIELD
Christopher Dommer leads the midfield pack (Copenhagen, Denmark.; Øregård Gymnasium). The attacking midfielder turned in a freshman season for the ages in 2022, scoring 13 goals and assisting on 12. He was a First Team All-MACCC selection at season's end.
"I feel like Chris is a true number 10 attacking midfield player," Gallant said. "He's trying to create goals for the team, not just for himself. He doesn't do too much on the ball. He does just enough to create opportunities for his teammates."
Alongside Dommer will be newcomer Noah Fazal (Vaerloese, Denmark.; Gladsaxe Gymnasium). Fazal is another attacking midfielder.
"There's going to be so much attention on Chris, and Noah Fazal is going to show up, and people are going to be amazed. Noah is the same level as Chris," Gallant said. "He is a difference maker in the middle of the field, but he does all the dirty work and grinds defensively. That will give Chris more freedom to move forward. Noah plays that same style as Chris. He takes a few quick touches and gets the ball out of his feet. I think he's going to be special."
Aden Smith (Biloxi) and Noah Webb (Pearl) will also factor into the midfield rotation. A very versatile player, Smith played at all three levels for the Wildcats last season. Webb factored in as a forward last season.
The defensive midfield has a number of options, including Zach Edwards (Biloxi) and returner Brennon Maulden (Wiggins; Stone County). Mark Peaden III (Ocean Springs) will begin the season as a centerback but profiles more as a defensive midfielder.
"I've been really pleased with Brennon and Zach so far in the preseason, both tactically and technically. Brennon has had a year of it, so he fits in more naturally," Gallant said. "We've worked it a little more with Zach because he needs more work than Brennon. Zach is coming along well."
Gallant has also been happy with the adjustment of Local product Devin Ladner (Poplarville) who could see time at a number of positions in 2023.
"What we do defensively isn't easy and he's understood it better than any of the freshman," Gallant said. "He knows how to press, where to be and how to cover."
DEFENSE
The Wildcats should have plenty of options at outside back in Gio Cruz (Moselle; South Jones), Daxx Dodson (Gulfport), Fisher DeCamp (Bay St. Louis; Bay) and Barrett Breazeale (Hattiesburg; Sumrall).
The centerback position will be led by returner Jason Garcia (Laurel; Northeast Jones).
"I still view Jason as a defensive midfielder, but he's headed back to centerback again this year. If you're a good soccer player, you can play anywhere," Gallant said. "He's proven that he's more of a leader back there this year. He's taking more control of things. He's comfortable back there, so I feel good about his leadership."
Due to an injury to newcomer Mikkell Fredsgaard (Værløse, Denmark), Peaden III will start alongside Garcia to begin the season.
"We feel really good about Mark. I've said it before, but Julio (Gruba) is irreplaceable. As far as a high school kid goes, Mark is one of the better we've seen in the last few year," Gallant said. "Because of an injury to Mikkell, Mark will begin the year as a centerback. He's been open to the move and done it well so far."
Whenever Fredsgaard fully recovers, he should slot right back into the lineup at centerback.
"We can tell he's got it technically and tactically. He comes from a big club background. It's just getting over this injury he's got right now," Gallant said. "He plays physically and he and Jason should make a good combination back there."
GOALKEEPERS
The goalkeeper battle this season will be larger than ever before as the Wildcats roster four keepers going into the season. Brayson Kirby (Carriere; Pearl River Central), Donovan Minor (Poplarville), Cameron Kent (Brandon) and Noah Nymark (Farsoe, Denmark) are among those in the competition.
"We've got a huge battle for goalkeeper going into the season," Gallant said. "All of these guys have been working extremely hard, so it's going to be interesting to see who comes out on top in the end."
GETTING STARTED
The Wildcats get the season started with a weekend roadtrip to Texarkana, Ark. PRCC takes on Cossatot on Friday at 1 p.m. before taking on former Wildcat assistant Diego Figueroa and National Park on Saturday at 1 p.m.
CASHLESS BOX OFFICE
To help improve traffic flow and fan experience, PRCC athletics box offices are cashless. Only credit and debit cards will be accepted at the box office. Fans are encouraged to beat the lines and purchase their tickets in advance at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets or fans can download the HomeTown Ticketing app to their mobile device to purchase and store their tickets.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2023 Pearl River soccer season are available now at PRCCAthletics.com/Tickets! General admission tickets are $8 or a season-pass can be purchased for $43.
TUNE IN
The Wildcats will once again livestream all matches for free at PRCCMedia.com/gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on Twitter (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).