Women’s Soccer kicks off 2023 on Tuesday

PERKINSTON — New Mississippi Gulf Coast women's soccer coach Ryan Joiner launches his first season in charge at Bary Thrash Field, and his Bulldogs have a single-minded objective.

"We told the team the goal this year is to get back into postseason play," he said. "That's the place Gulf Coast deserves to be in. It's going to take a lot of work and effort, and we're going to need some luck with things going our way. We need to stay healthy. A berth in the postseason is the goal, and when you get into a one-off playoff situation, anything can happen."

Gulf Coast plays archrival Pearl River in a non-conference clash Tuesday to open the season. Kickoff at Perk is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch. Season tickets are on sale now at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets. Adults pay $50 and youths cost $35, with that single-match opener plus eight doubleheader nights with the men's team.

Joiner will be starting his sixth season as a head coach in the MACCC after moving from East Central this summer. He's hit the ground running and has his team winding up preparations for the 2023 season.

There's a lot of potential up top, where the Bulldogs have shown the ability to put the ball in the net. Morgan Pickering (Wiggins/Stone) had a first-half hat trick in a 6-0 win over Pensacola State.

"It's probably the most exciting part of our team," Joiner said. "Morgan is a returning player, and we feel like she's got loads of goals in her. She's got four in her first two exhibitions."

Kyla Smith (Fr., Hurley/East Central), Kadie Craft (Fr., Picayune/Picayune) and Elissa Viquez (Fr., St. Rose, La./Destrehan) are incoming players who have had success early. When Addie Grace Barnard (Fr., Florence/Florence) returns from injury, she's expected to team with Pickering to provide two tall target options in front of goal.

Valentina Marin (So., Bogota, Colombia/Colegio Madre Matilde), who was an All-MACCC performer last year, and Lainey Cunningham (So., Wiggins/Stone) bring experience to the midfield. Ann Elise Hester (So., Hattiesburg/Presbyterian Christian) will also play some as a defender.

Amy Treminio (Fr., Long Beach/Long Beach) and Sofia Reina (Fr., Bogota, Colombia/Liceo de la Universidad Catolica) are talented newcomers, and Isabella Reynolds (Fr., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) will split time between midfield and forward.

"It's probably a different midfield than I've ever coached," Joiner said. "They're very creative and innovative. We have to break some habits they developed with other teams, but they're starting to gel and find themselves. With Lainey in there having experience, and Amy coming in and finding herself as a player has been big."

He said the backline featuring Tiffany Beasley (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs), Neave Ross (Fr., Whitley Bay, England/Whitley Bay) and Azlyn Dawson (Fr., Taylorsville/West Jones) were great in the two exhibitions. Sophie Bell (Fr., Hattiesburg/Sacred Heart) played well against Pensacola State, and the Bulldogs will be looking to build more depth at those positions.

A'Leigh Coleman (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) played every minute in goal last season, earning All-MACCC honors. She had a 1.59 goals-against average, with five losses or ties where she allowed just one goal. Leah Capiola (Fr., Wiggins/Stone) is a state champion from Stone who will make for a strong backup.

Joiner thinks there will be a tough battle for the seven postseason spots. The MACCC women's champ will host the Gulf South District tournament, with the next six teams playing in the quarterfinals. The NJCAA has eliminated overtime during the regular season.

Holmes, which advanced to the national championship game last year, is ranked second in the NJCAA preseason poll. No. 3 Northwest Mississippi and No. 4 Jones advanced to the national semifinals. Pearl River, the Bulldogs' season-opening opponent, is ranked 11^th. Gulf Coast will be fighting it out for the other spots, and there could be some surprising upsets along the way.

"The depth of the conference is probably the best it's been," Joiner said. "Players are choosing to come to JUCO instead of university because the playing time is immediate. It's going to be a very tough 11 conference games."

He'll be joined on the sidelines by returning assistant coach Quintin Walker, who coached professional soccer in Birmingham, Ala., last year. He'll be in his seventh season as an assistant at his alma mater.

"I'm excited to have Quintin onboard. He's been here before and obviously knows the league. He brings a different element to what we do as a program. He's an attacking guy, and I'm very much a defensive guy, so it's a good mesh. I'm very blessed to have him here."

Joiner is happy to be back close to where he grew up in Ocean Springs. He's been congratulations when he's wearing the Gulf Coast logo around town, and he got a lot of texts from friends when he got hired. His connections in South Mississippi are deep.

"It's an honor to be back on the Coast," Joiner said. "I'm excited to grow the program. It's going to take time, but we feel like we have the team this year that can compete in a lot of areas. I'm super excited to get the season going."

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.