Lady Wildcats return big numbers this year

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Dec. 4, 2003
The list of returning players to the Meridian High School girls' soccer team is pretty imposing.
The squad that fell to eventual state champion Tupelo in the first round of the playoffs last season have Emily Bryan, Sarah Denham, Jamie Easterwood, Kortney Harris, Sarah King, Erin Ware, Tiffany Hickman, Leanna Baldner, Amber Mowdy, Lindsey Lang and Sarah Hammas back for another season of Lady Wildcats' soccer.
The high number of retention from last season's roster has made McReynolds' and trainer Michael Smith's jobs easier on the practice field so far this season.
As hard as it may be to believe with the long list of returning players, the Lady Wildcats did lose some players from last season's 12-5 squad.
Raven Williams graduated and is now playing for Meridian Community College, and sweeper Kirstin Gambrell picked up her high school diploma last year as well.
Though the Lady Wildcats lost their defensive quarterback in Gambrell, the team is still very strong in the backfield.
Denham anchors the squad from the net, and Meridian High fields a tough quartet in front of the goal to keep offensive from getting off quality shots.
If there is one thing Meridian High has been working on, it is the teams ability to score.
The Lady Wildcats field a team that can put plenty of pressure on the opposition's defense, but they are still searching for a scoring touch.
Meridian High's ability to score and defend was tested on Nov. 24 on the field of MCC.
The Lady Wildcats hosted No. 1-ranked Tupelo and fell 4-1. On the plus side, Meridian High's goal was the first one the Lady Waves had given up in the young season.