Coast soccer teams looking to make runs to Jackson
The Coast made a strong push on the pitch in 2014-15, with three teams making it to state championship games.
Could the upcoming season see a similar push by South Mississippi's finest? Several teams -- both boys and girls -- seem poised to make runs to Jackson once again.
St. Stanislaus
The Rockachaws (19-6-1 in 2014-15) was the lone Coast team to come away from Jackson last year with a state championship, St. Stanislaus' second in as many trips.
SSC is looking for a three-peat this season and appears to have the fire power to do so. Coach Ryan Joiner said the focus for his team will be will be to embrace the total team concept rather than playing as individuals.
"Individually, we're as talented as anybody in the state, we just have to come together and play as a unit," he said. "We have to hide the egos and swallow our pride a little bit because we know how good we can be, it's just a matter of working together."
Reigning Sun Herald Player of the Year, Dustin Bosch, is back after registering 10 goals and 17 assists a year ago. So is fellow All-South Mississippi standout Andrew Elkins.
Joiner said the addition of senior goalkeeper Owen Betz, who missed last prep season due to injury and is currently one of the football Rockachaws' leading receivers, will be huge.
"His experience and athleticism, it's the difference between us being good and great this year," Joiner said.
Ocean Springs boys
Ocean Springs' boys team has big goals annually and this season will be no different. One year after finishing second in Class 6A, the Greyhounds (16-6-3 in 2014-15) look to make another run this season with a balanced approach on the pitch.
"We're hoping to have some senior leadership that can help us get over the hump," coach Jeff French said. "The last two times we've been up there we fell short. We know what it's like. With 10 seniors they were up there as freshmen and again as juniors so hopefully they know what it's like and can give us that extra little leadership to allow us to get back up there and this time come out victorious."
Two of the better players in the state are Greyhound seniors in forward Steven Gallagher and goalkeeper Travis Harper.
"He's a smart player with a tremendous work rate. He reads the game and knows where to be," French said of Gallagher. "He knows how to create opportunities for himself."
As for Harper, the keeper was a big reason for Ocean Springs' success last year.
"He's a leader. He's a vocal leader in the back, which you have to have," French said. "Aside from that he's what you expect your goalkeeper to be, a tremendous shot blocker."
Gulfport girls
Gulfport's Lady Admirals graduated seven starters from last year's 17-4-4 squad, but coach Chris Pryor said he's not looking at a rebuild -- especially when they return one of the Coast's leading scorers from last season in sophomore Alexis Arnoult.
"It's a double-edged sword. We're going to need her to put some balls in the back of the net, but I know she's going to get more attention than she did last year," Pryor said. "Expectations are high. She's a year older and stronger, so I think she's going to have a good year. She's going to have to push through some double teams and things like that."
One position to watch on GHS will be in goal, where the Lady Admirals look to break in two freshmen, Gracie Weatherly and Azaria Breaux. Pryor said he plans to rotate the freshmen early on but hopes one of them can take over the starting position by December.
Ocean Springs girls
The big question in front of Ocean Springs' girls (17-4-3 in 2014-15) entering the season is how do they replace the 45 goals Ashton Stennis and Savanah Carter took with them upon graduation?
"That's been the key to this whole off season," coach Patrick Hayes said. "It's going to be by committee. We have a young team and we don't have the superstar like Ashton Stennis and Savanah Carter, but we have a lot of really good players. We have a lot of good team speed and the girls have quite a bit of experience at the club level."
Hayes sees sophomore Emma Hunt, who scored four goals a year ago, picking up some of the slack, but he said he could have as many as four or five girls with 10 or more goals this season.
Senior goalkeeper Karsen Gildea was a big reason for Ocean Springs' success last year, registering 10 shutouts and allowing just 16 goals in 20 matches.
"There's no doubt it's a positive to have a senior in goal. I'm expecting her to have another all-state performance in goal," Hayes said. "She has really taken this team under her wing in practice, especially in the last couple of weeks. The focus has really ramped up and she's very driven. She wants to go out on top."
Returning standouts
Five girls return from the 2014-15 Sun Herald All-South Mississippi girls soccer team: Arnoult, Gildea, Resurrection senior Bailey Clemens, George County senior Harley Johnson and Pass Christian senior Shannon Swilley. Ten boys return from last year's Sun Herald All South-Mississippi boys team: Bosch, Eakins, Gallagher, Harper, Pass Christian senior Caleb Counselman, Gulfport senior Jared Cumberland, Biloxi seniors Koray Easterling and Marcus Kennedy, Pascagoula senior Hayden Hamm and Bay High junior Ethan Loftin.
Most Coast teams played classic games over the weekend. The regular season officially begins this week.
This story was originally published November 9, 2015 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Coast soccer teams looking to make runs to Jackson ."