POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The Pearl River women's soccer team claimed the South Division title a year ago — coach Henrik Madsen's first at the helm of the program.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the soccer season being relocated to the spring semester, Madsen's debut season seems like it was years ago instead of nearly 18 months ago.

The Wildcats have made the most of their extended offseason, however, focusing on conditioning and implementing tactics for the spring 2021 season.

"I think we're starting to get comfortable with where we are. Fitness wise, we're looking good. We still need to sharpen up some things but it looks like it's coming together at the right time," Madsen said following training earlier this week. "I think we'll be better prepared as far as tactics because we've had some extra time to get all of that narrowed down."

With seven players returning from last season — and the added time together away from true competitions — Madsen hasn't had to change too much tactically.
The Wildcats' will be fluid this season depending on the opponent, Madsen said, but the squad should look to base out of a 4-3-3.

"We should be good," he said. "I'm still hoping to be possession based with some good, creative players hopefully scoring a bunch of goals. We'll try to play out of the back and go from there."

Alexa Beets (Long Beach) and Makenzie Ezell (Ocean Springs) have been named team captains for this season.

ATTACK
The Wildcats should have a dynamic attack this year, blending some talented newcomers with established veterans.

Returner Briana Carr (Laurel; West Jones) was a late addition in 2019 but immediately forced her way into the lineup. She finished her freshman campaign with seven goals and two assists.

"She has great instincts and anticipates the play well," Madsen said. "She's really good combining with other players. We look for her to build on her impressive freshman season."

Veteran Jade Shaw (Carriere; Pearl River Central) and newcomer Jenny Satcher (Hattiesburg) will split time between wing and wingback positions.

Shaw is an in-your-face player who scored five goals as a freshman.

"She's tenacious, can run all day and gives defenders fits with the way she plays," Madsen said. 

Satcher should find a number of ways to contribute.

"Jenny can serve in great crosses, can run all day," Madsen said. "She might be our fastest player. She's right there."

Another returner who will contribute at forward is Tylee McCann (Leakesville; Greene County).

"She has unreal ability and is a natural," Madsen said. "She just loves to play the game. 

"She could be an X-factor for us."

Two more newcomers who will factor heavily into the attack are Aubrie Edwards (Biloxi) and Zaria Crumpton (Leakesville; Greene County).

"We have high expectations for Aubrie," Madsen said. "We expect a lot of goals from her. She's very good 1-v-1 in the attacking third. She's unpredictable and creative with unreal quickness."

Madsen said Crumpton will likely be more of a winger, whereas Edwards will play forward. 

"She works really hard and has good pace," he said. 

MIDFIELD
PRCC's midfield should be pretty set with freshmen Lily Lentz (Gilbert, Ariz.; Dr. Camille Casteel), Katie Havard (Hurley; East Central) and Sydney Spataro (Long Beach) holding three main positions. 

Madsen called Lentz, who will play more of a defensive role, crucial to their midfield success.

"She'll be the link between our defenders and attackers," Madsen said. "You can tell she has played at a high level. She's really good on the ball, sees the field well and has good ideas."

Spataro will be the team's "creator". 

"She's our No. 10," Madsen said. "She will have to be the one who creates chances with our passing. She'll have to do a little bit of everything."

Havard will play more of a box-to-box role.

"Katie is a hard-working, scrappy midfielder," he said. "She'll be really good at doing the dirty work as far as cleaning up messes."

Madsen also has Blair Viator (Hattiesburg; Sacred Heart) at his disposal in the midfield.

"She'll be a holding mid," he said. "She's good in the air and is a good technical player."

DEFENSE
The Wildcats' back line will be a strength with sophomores Ezell and Beets teaming up with new signees Bailey Smith (Gulfport) and Erin Clifford (Ocean Springs).

"It's a good mix," Madsen said. "They all bring something different.

"If they can keep their composure they'll be hard to break down."

Beets will anchor the interior at centerback.

"She will be the organizer and leader along the back line," he said.

Smith, Clifford and Ezell will be flexible, moving between interior positions to fullback roles.

"Baily is really quick and is an excellent 1-on-1 defender," Madsen said. "Makenzie is an experienced leader and has a ton of confidence on the ball. Erin is probably the most dynamic as far as playmaking ability and getting forward."

Additionally, Samantha Kennedy (Carriere; Pearl River Central) will slot in all along the back line.

"She's versatile and can play both outside back positions," Madsen said. "She has picked up our style of play fairly quickly."

GOALKEEPING
Madsen said the biggest ongoing position battle is in goal, where freshmen Azaria Breaux (Gulfport) and Kylie Dailey (Lucedale; George County) have been pushing one another.

"Right now it's neck-and-neck with the two goalkeepers," he said. "One day it will be Kylie better and the next Azaria will be better. We're going to let them split the games and hopefully by conference they will have it all sorted out."

Madsen said both keepers excel at different things. 

"Kylie is a great shot blocker and reads the play well, where Azaria is probably the better communicator and organizes the back line well," he said. "

SCHEDULE
The Wildcats host an exhibition match Monday against Hinds and will open the season Friday, April 2 at Hinds. PRCC then travels to East Central on Tuesday, April 6 before making its home debut Friday, April 9 against Itawamba.

All home matches will be livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com.

NEW TO DIVISION II
All of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference is making a move this season. The MACCC's schools have previously played in Division I, despite using traditional Division II roster constraints. This year, the National Junior College Athletic Association has created a Division II, which will include all of the MACCC. With the move means a new opportunity and road to a potential national championship for the Mississippi programs. Should one of the MACCC's schools make the final 12, the national tournament will be June 3-8. The site is still being determined. The field will initially be broken into four three-team pools and will go from there.

"We have talked a little bit about how there is potential to win a national championship for whoever wins our conference. That's a big carrot at the end of the season," Madsen said. "But we need to take care of the games between now and then and not worry about what's months away. We need to catch the Holmes and Itawambas. Those two teams are on top so we have to catch them.

"The new Division II classification is comprised of 14 regions from across the country." 

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