GIRLS SOCCER
It’s every bit of what Lady Greyhounds head soccer coach Mikayla Greene calls a “blank slate” as the season begins.
A bevy of seniors have graduated since last season, including Emily Brennaman, who was the go-to scorer for Jones County in recent years.
How green is this group that returns three starters from last year? Last Thursday’s scrimmage was the first high school game for four freshman starters, and it was also the first-ever game for Jones County’s goalie.
The flip side is that seniors such as Taylor Nipper at midfield and Shayla Pennington on defense have helped to set the tone. Greene is no doubt familiar with Pennington and Nipper’s on and off-field qualities, having coached them as a softball assistant as well.
“We’re not looking for an Emily Brennaman; we don’t have her,” Greene said. “Shayla Pennington, Taylor Nipper and our other seniors, they’ve really stepped up. They know that the expectations are.”
They are leaders of a team of freshmen eager to dive head-first into the season.
“They’re ready to go. (After the scrimmage) they were like, ‘that was so fun, we’re ready to go again,” Greene said.
And that enjoyment goes beyond the players, and the growth in progress of a young team is something that Greene is already enjoying.
“I’m having so much fun already this year,” Greene said. “It’s almost like having a blank canvas. I’ve really enjoyed it, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
