The 2017-18 MHSAA soccer season is on the horizon. Here is a preview of the West Jones girls and boys soccer teams.
West Jones Girls
Head Coach: Craig Winship
Previous Year Record: 15-5-2 (overall); 5-1 (Region 5-5A)
First Game: vs. Richland on November 4 at 1 p.m.
Key Players: Allie James, Anna Grace Gieger, Bri Carr, Cassie Winship, Kaylee Chennault.
What coach had to say:
“We’re returning our leading scorer Allie James. She had 30 goals last season. We’re also returning our assist leader Anna Grace Gieger. She had 30 assists last season.
“We have several competing for spots at several other positions. We lost two starting center-mids and two starting center-backs, so we have to rebuild in the middle. But we have several others starters who return, including Bri Carr (FORW, MF), Kaylee Chennault (MF, FORW), Cassie Winship (GK) and both of our outside backs.
“If we can settle the questions in the middle, and have girls step up, earn those spots and provide solid minutes that we are used to having, I think we’re going to have a good year.”
West Jones Boys
Head Coach: Josh Sullivan
Previous Year Record: 13-9-1 (overall); 3-3 (Region 5-5A)
First Game: vs. Northwest Rankin on November 4 at 10:15 a.m.
Key Players: Jess Cooley, Luke Cummings, Luis Ramirez, Carlos Aguilar.
What coach had to say:
“We’re returning a lot of players from last season. We had 24 varsity players last season, and we lost four [to graduation]. It’s never easy to replace guys that you lose, but we have a lot of young guys that I feel will step up, even though they don’t have a lot of experience playing varsity.
“We’ve looked pretty good during the offseason, so I’m excited to see where we can go. We have eight seniors and eight juniors, so we feel like we’re an older team. It should be fun, and it should be entertaining.
“We do have a tough schedule. Coach Winship asked me who I wanted to play this year. I told him that if he thinks we need to play them then put them on the schedule. I know we are playing two state champions for sure – maybe three – and a couple of teams that made it all the way to the finals last season, but we are ready for the challenge.”
