MSMS soccer teams finished their seasons with the Frazer team winning 8-1 against Coahoma County on Feb. 3 in the first playoff, which allowed them to advance to the second playoff before eventually losing 2-5 against Tupelo Christian Preparatory School on Feb. 6. The Goen team lost in its first playoff game 1-2 against Vardaman on Feb. 3.
First-round playoffs against Coahoma County, Vardaman
During the first half of the Coahoma County game, Frazer senior co-captain and striker Sebastian Harvey scored seven unanswered goals with assists from senior midfielder Ethan Liao and junior attacking midfielder Daniel Van. Frazer maintained momentum throughout the game by interplaying the midfield and defensive players.
“We did a really great job drifting in between their center-backs, [receiving] our through balls and managing the turn and score,” Harvey said.
After Frazer led by six goals in the first half, Liao confirmed the mercy rule by delivering a low cross toward the far post. The ball deflected off an opposing defender before entering the goal.
Goen senior co-captains Ella Jones, Sabrina Sims and Laykin Dixon did not respond to interview requests before publication.
Second-round playoff against TCPS
In the first half, TCPS scored the first two goals before junior right defender Sean Stewart sent a long ball down the pitch five minutes before the end of the first half, and Harvey cut back onto his right foot and slotted it into the top left corner of the goal.
TCPS immediately scored again, right before the end of the first half, which Harvey said was a sucker punch to the team’s morale.
As the referee called for halftime, Van broke his ankle, which Harvey said only added insult to the team’s injured hopes.
In the second half, TCPS scored twice from long shots at the goal. At the very end of the game, junior attacking midfielder Yash Malhotra threaded a ball outside of the opposing left defender, allowing Harvey to place a left-footed finish into the bottom right corner.
Harvey said it was a disappointing way to end the season.
“All in all, the result was fair, and that’s tough to take. I felt like they had a physical and tactical edge on us, even though technically we could compete,” Harvey said. “We started slowly and weren’t fluid enough in our ball progression all game. All season long, we’ve been conceding cheap goals to long balls over our back line, and it happened too many times again today.”
Senior reflections
Throughout the season, Goen and Frazer seniors alike said they were surprised at the teams’ remarkable growth, especially considering the number of players who had never stepped onto a soccer field before. Both teams began practice in mid-October, leaving little time for preparation before the first game two days later.
“Goen definitely had its ups and downs during this season, but the girls supported themselves, working out all their problems together,” senior manager Rusleen Bhalla said.
The teams encountered a series of challenges throughout the season. Goen and Frazer shared the practice field near MSMS’s Performing Arts Center — a rundown, sloped terrain with ant hills. They also shared equipment and jerseys, which sometimes caused conflict between the teams. Additionally, with many players sustaining injuries throughout the season, the captains took on the task of training players for alternative positions.
Despite these drawbacks, senior manager Sydney Beane said she observed Goen and Frazer players collectively improve and gain greater confidence.
“Everyone was determined to come out to practice. Everyone was determined to get better at their position,” Beane said.
On top of athletics, Harvey said the players simultaneously juggled rigorous academic schedules, an essential part of the student-athlete experience at MSMS.
“All [the players] are very busy people, and it is difficult to get our physicality levels up to a high enough standard,” Harvey said. “[However], at the same time, we maximize[d] our skills and play[ed] well as a team to overcome the physical imbalances.”
As the season concludes, Harvey said success for upcoming seasons is uncertain, but players should enjoy soccer above all else.
“[At MSMS], you only have two years to [play soccer] with each other. You’re never planning to demolish every team,” Harvey said. “Sports should be a physical outlet — a way to have fun [with] friends and distract your mind from [school].”
