CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College women's soccer team will head into their second season in the Gulf South Conference with more confidence due to their successful introductory campaign.

The Lady Choctaws finished their first season in the GSC with a winning record for the 16th straight year. They ended the year with an overall record of 9-8-1 with a 4-7-1 GSC record.

The Lady Choctaws graduated nine seniors in the 2014 season but head into the new year with confidence in their experienced returners and strong recruiting class. MC tallied 42 goals last season, allowing just 29 by their opponents.

MC landed four Lady Choctaws on the National Christian College Athletic Association All-MidEast Region Team, including Melanie Benner (Seminole, Fla.), Macey Lee (Pearl, Miss.), Meghan Dodge (Palm Harbor, Fla.) and Sayit Mejia Bello (Bogota, Colombia). Both Dodge and Bello will be returning as seniors to help lead the team.

Head coach Darryl Longabaugh said he "is excited about the team they will be putting on the field this year and confident that they we will be a competitive unit in the GSC."



FORWARDS

Returning to lead the attack this year is senior Sayit Mejia Bello. Mejia Bello led the team last season with 10 goals and four assists.

Sophomores Amber Colvin (Clarksville, Tenn.) and Hope Smith (Fort Worth, Texas) will also be returning up front for the Lady Choctaws. Colvin saw action in six games and recorded one helper as a freshman. Smith played in nine games for MC and tallied one goal in the shutout victory over Belhaven in the 2014 season.

Longabaugh sees a lot of potential in his incoming class as he welcomes some new additions to the front line. Freshmen Gaylynn Cooper (Jackson, Miss.) and Jess Davenport (Widness, England) will be joining the attack this year. Cooper played club soccer for MS Rush 97 Premiere girls where she was named the team's MVP at MRA for four seasons. Davenport previously played at St. Peter and Paul Catholic College. She was named Manager's Player of the Year for the 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons.

MIDFIELD

Junior Meghan Mauzy (Titusville, Fla.) will help lead the center of the field this year as she possess the most experience in the midst of a young midfield line. Mauzy played in all 18 games last season, starting in 15. She tallied one assist in the victory over Union (Tenn.) and recorded a goal against Christian Brothers. She also helped a defense that pitched two shutouts.

Sophomore Hannah Bailey (Brandon, Miss.) will also be returning to the midfield as she saw action in seven games for the Choctaws in the 2014 season.

Freshmen Samantha Carson (Suffolk, England), Peace Gill (Derbyshire, England) and Daisy Rodgers (Grapevine, Texas) are three newcomers to the midfield that will have to have an immediate impact.

Carson played for the girl's futbol academy and the London Bees in the Super League where she was named Player's Player of the Year in the 2012-13 season. Gill played for Derby County and was named Manager's Player of the Year for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 season. Gill also made her First Team debut at 16 years old in the English Premier League. Rodgers played at the Covenant Christian Academy where she was a three-time All-State Honoree.

DEFENDERS

The defense returns several experienced players including team captains in senior Megan Dodge (Palm Harbor, Fla.) and junior Madison Leonard (Cantonment, Fla.). Dodge started in all 18 games last season tallying 1,375 minutes on the field. Dodge had one assist in the 1-1 tie against Valdosta State. She has played in 48 career contests and will be a rock on the back line.

Leonard started in 16 games for the Lady Choctaws and tallied over 1,378 minutes on the year. She recorded one assist and two goals on the season. 

Senior Eri Unai started in 15 games, tallying 1,270 minutes on the field. The Saitama, Japan native recorded an assist in the 3-0 shutout victory over Spring Hill.

New to the defense this year will be junior Somer Anderson (Soso, Miss.) and freshman Lauren Dodge (Palm Harbor, Fla.). Anderson transfers to MC from Jones County Junior College and was named a MACJC All-State selection. Dodge is the younger sister of team captain Meghan Dodge. Lauren previously played for East lake High School and was a four-year varsity letterman.

GOALKEEPERS

The Lady Choctaws return two experienced goalkeepers this season including junior Melanie Hummert (Carrolton, Texas) and senior Robin Cooper (Vicksburg, Miss.). Hummert saw action in 10 games and spent 510 minutes between the posts last season. Hummert made 37 saves with one shutout victory against Spring Hill.

Junior Robin Cooper (Vicksburg, Miss.) returns to the goal from starting in 14 games last season and playing 1,125 minutes. Cooper made 74 saves with a 1.59 goals against average.

Also pushing for playing time in the goal this season is freshman Andrea McDonald (New Orleans, La.) and Callie Anderson (Allen, Texas). McDonald played for St. Mary's Dominican where she was three-time First Team All-District selection. Anderson played at Allen High School and was named team MVP in 2013 and made the Second Team All-District performer in 2014.

OVERALL

The Lady Choctaws enter into their second season in the GSC with more confidence now having one year under their belt of Division II competition.

Assistant coach Adam Johnson said "as far as the process of how we want to play, we are almost there. We have 23 new players combining with 13 former players so there will be growing pains but they are integrating well together and are beginning to click."

Longabaugh said "I am pleased with the work ethic and attitudes that the players have put forth so far and I am ready to get this season started."

The Lady Choctaws will play their annual alumni game on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Robert P. Longabaugh Field. They will open their regular season against Belhaven on Thursday, September 3rd at 4:00 p.m. at Robert P. Longabaugh Field.