No one soccer player in Jones County had quite the season like Esmeralda Figueroa. Finishing her senior season with 53 goals – the most of any player in Jones County, both girls and boys alike – and tying former teammate Morgan Mansell with 155 career goals – the most ever in school history – the Northeast Jones girls striker says she has her parents to thank for her accomplishments.
“It was a great year,” said Figueroa. “But I didn’t get here by myself. My mom made me read books because [the game of] soccer is not all physical and tactical, its also mental. And daddy helped me train, and he was a huge impact for me this season.”
Figueroa earns the high honor or being named the first-ever Sports601 Jones County Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“From the time she was a seventh grader, we knew she would be great and had a lot of talent,” said Northeast Jones girls head coach Matt Reid. “Especially this year, her senior year, it wasn’t just her play on the field. She made huge strides as a [team] captain. Her leadership and her attitude were so good this year that it bled over into the field and caused her to have more success than even she thought she could have.”
Figueroa’s 53 goals this year broke the school’s single-season record. She could have broken, instead of tying, the record for most goals in a career at Northeast Jones had she began her career as a striker in the seventh grade.
“Coach Tyson coached her during her seventh-grade career,” said Reid. “She was an outside defender then. And halfway through my first year of coaching [here at NEJ], I kept her at defender. One game I needed to find another striker, so I moved her because I saw she had the potential. She scored a big goal for us in one of the games I put her in, so I kept her there. And she hasn’t looked back.”
The JCJC signee said she grew to love the position years ago.
“On defense, you just get the ball and kick it out, or kick it to a forward,” said Figueroa. “When I moved to striker, I had to learn a lot more things. You have to learn to connect with people and find the back of the net as well as a lot more things. It’s fun though.”
Above all, though, Figueroa is a team player. On occasions, Reid has moved her to defender or center-mid, or to the outside edge to isolate her for more one-on-one situations.
“She is so versatile,” Reid said. “When you have the talent she has, you can play any position. I guess she’ll play striker [at JCJC], but she could really play anywhere.”
Figueroa chooses JCJC over several D1 colleges, including Northwestern State and Southern Miss, and four-year universities such as William Carey, SUNY Farmingdale State in New York, West Alabama and West Florida just to name a few.
She will join her sister, Araceli Figueroa, at JCJC. Both made their decision public on Monday inside Northeast Jones’ Media Center. A total of eight Northeast Jones players will play soccer at the next level.
“JCJC is a good option because they’re good both athletically and academically,” said Figueroa. “And I’ve known Dolores (Lady Bobcats head coach) forever. Hopefully, she can prepare me more, athletically and academically, for a chance at a D1 or SEC school. Plus, to get to play with my sister is amazing.”
