CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College women's soccer All-American Caitlin Hayes has signed to play in the top women's league in Scotland, inking with Celtic FC Women on Friday (Sept. 11).

Hayes (Warrington, England) helped lead the Lady Choctaws to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2017, earning the #1 seed in the South Region following a Gulf South Conference regular season co-championship.

Individually, she became the first All-American in school history in 2017, also earning a spot on the All-GSC First Team in 2016 and 2017 and All-Region honors as a junior and senior. She scored 20 career goals with eight assists, leading MC with nine scores in the 2015 season.

Following her collegiate career, she joined Somatio Barcelona FA in Cyprus before playing with Lewes FC in the championship as a semi-professional.

Signing with Celtic FC Women, Hayes is a full-time professional soccer player and joins a team that joins the full-time professional ranks in 2020.

"My excitement to officially make the move to Celtic is through the roof," said Hayes. "It's a great honor to represent such a prestigious club and to make football my full-time job.

"But no words can articulate the gratitude I have for MC and the pride I hold to be a part of the Choctaw family," Hayes went on. "Go Choctaws!"

"We are so proud of Cailtin and extremely excited to see her succeed," said MC women's soccer head coach Darryl Longabaugh. "She is a great young lady on and off the pitch. God has great plans for her, and we are excited to see the difference she will make with Celtic FC."

The first match of the 2020 season is slated for Sunday, October 18 when Celtic FC faces Glasgow City.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and began competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.

The athletic department sponsors 18 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Men's and Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.