Meet the Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Girls Soccer Team for the 2022-23 season
The Mississippi Gulf Coast was once again a factory for high-level girl’s soccer athletes in 2023.
Multiple athletes are committed to Division I schools and every state championship game featured a South Mississippi school.
St. Patrick continued the region’s hardware-earning tradition with a Class I title win, while Gulfport, West Harrison and Stone came away as runner-ups.
For her efforts in leading the Lady Irish to a championship, Cassandra Terry is the Sun Herald’s Coach of the Year. Joining her among the honors is Player of the Year Abigail Badurak from Gulfport and the fan’s choice Player of the Year Bella Reynolds of Pascagoula.
Coach of the Year
Cassandra Terry, St. Patrick
The first time was the charm for Cassandra Terry and the Lady Irish. In her debut season as the head coach of the girl’s soccer program at St. Patrick, Terry led the Irish to the Class I state championship and defeated Tupelo Christian to earn the title.
St. Patrick rattled off a 19-2 season with a 6-0 record in district play. Terry’s team was a force in the postseason, outscoring opponents 26-1 over four games. She had two 20-goal scorers in Anna Katherine Thriffiley and Isabella Jordan.
Sun Herald Player of the Year
Abigail Badurak, Gulfport
An Admiral claims top honors for the fourth straight year after Badurak’s 39-goal season. The senior is a Southern Miss signee who assisted on 18 goals for Gulfport.
Badurak helped lead a strong Admiral team, one that also featured the state’s top-ranked prospect in Mary Frances Symmes, to the Class 6A state championship game. Badurak’s 39 goals led the Coast.
Fan Choice Player of the Year
Bella Reynolds, Pascagoula
The senior Panther was a force at midfielder this season, scoring 16 goals and assisting on seven others. Reynolds scored or assisted on 23 of the team’s 27 goals.
Reynolds won the fan’s choice poll with over 20,000 votes. St. Patrick’s Anna Katherine Thriffiley came in second with 27 percent of the vote, while Alli Shemper of Biloxi rounded out the top three.
Sun Herald All-South Mississippi Team
Alli Shemper, Biloxi: A four-year starter and captain, Shemper is a top defensive midfielder and Pearl River C.C. signee. She scored three goals and four assists and is a Coast All Star.
- Mary Frances Symmes, Gulfport: The top-ranked player in the state, Symmes is a North Carolina State signee who scored 22 goals and had 17 assists. The senior was a Coast All Star and All-District pick.
Anna Grace Deakle, Gulfport: The defender played nearly every minute of every game and was awarded the MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award in the 6A state title game.
- Jaylen Bodry, Ocean Springs: Bodry was a Mississippi Coast All Star selection who scored 20 goals and assisted on seven more.
- Parker St. Amant, Ocean Springs: The junior scored 11 goals, had seven assists and was a Coast All Star.
- Chloe Ezell, Ocean Springs: Ezell is a senior captain who is signed with Pearl River C.C. She scored 16 goals and assisted on five others.
- Brianna Gasaway, Ocean Springs: The junior defender and Coast all star played a key role in the Greyhounds’ 0.45 goals against per game average.
- Laurel Conely, Ocean Springs: Conely, a junior goalkeeper, was pivotal in the Greyhounds defense and recorded three shootout saves in the second round of the playoffs.
- Stevie Kerns, West Harrison: Kerns was an All-District and Coast All Star selection who scored eight goals and assisted on 14 others as a team captain.
- Abbie Hancock, West Harrison: Hancock scored 13 goals and had nine assists. The two-time All-District pick and Coast All Star game participant scored two game-winning goals in the playoffs.
- Meredith Rogers, West Harrison: The three-time Coast All Star game selection contributed to 13 team shutouts as a defender.
- Beautyful Humphrey, George County: The Hinds C.C. commit had 47 saves this season from the net. She is a two-time All-District and Coast All Star selection.
- Tristan Byrd, George County: Byrd was the Team Player of the Year and was an All-District pick. The Southwest C.C. commit scored five goals and had three assists.
- Jennifer Lopez, Gautier: Lopez is a three-time Coast All Star who scored 22 goals and assisted on three more.
Avery Saulter, Pass Christian: Saulter scored 21 goals for her Pirates as a senior and had five assists, as well. Saulter is also a Coast All Star.
- Rileigh Hanson, Pascagoula: The forward scored eight goals and had three assists in her sophomore season.
- Mary Grace Batson, Stone: Batson led the Tomcats with a career-high 23 goals and seven assists as a junior.
Anna Katherine Thriffiley, St. Patrick: The sophomore scored 25 goals and assisted on four for the Lady Irish. Thriffiley was selected to play in the Coast All Star game.
Isabella Jordan, St. Patrick: Jordan scored 23 goals and had four assists as a freshman. She scored or assisted on four of the team’s six goals in the state championship game.
This story was originally published March 31, 2023 at 12:02 PM.
