Last year’s playoff loss to Poplarville left many North Pike players wondering “what if.”
They wondered what if the 5-4 outcome, which bounced the Lady Jaguars from the Class 4A girls soccer playoffs, would have been different with more time on the clock.
Seven of those players who remained on the team have pondered that for a year and get a chance to redeem themselves tonight when North Pike hosts Greene County at 4:30 in the opening round of the 4A state playoffs.
“Last year, that kind of left a bad taste in their mouth because at the end of the end of the game last year, they said if only we had a couple more minutes,” North Pike coach Wes McCullough said.
North Pike fell behind 4-0 against Poplarville before tying it up at halftime. A late goal in the second half sent the Lady Jaguars packing.
The Lady Jaguars (16-2-1) enjoyed a successful season and another district title after securing a perfect 6-0 record last week. They also celebrated the personal achievement of Lauren Wells, who set a school record with her 50th goal last Thursday in a 8-2 win over Lawrence County.
Wells broke the record a year after Dakota Parks set the mark with 49 goals in 2012.
Wells and teammates Savannah Johnston and Lindsey Reid, who have both registered 20-plus goals this season, will be counted on to help guide the Lady Jaguars to their first 4A playoff win.
North Pike has advanced past the first round twice during McCullough’s 11-year tenure, but has yet to notch a playoff win since the school moved up to 4A.
“They’ll probably be the best team we’ve played this year,” McCullough said.
McCullough said Greene County doesn’t matchup to any of North Pike’s opponents this season, but did mention Richland as comparable foe. The Lady Jaguars lost to Richland, 6-0, back in November. Richland finished the season 13-5-1.
Greene County is 14-3-4 this season and tied with Northeast Jones for first place in Region 7-4A, but earned the No. 2 seed in the playoffs via a tiebreak.
The Lady Wildcats are led by Darby Nettles, who has 31 goals this season.
“They have an extremely good player in Darby Nettles and several other girls to go with her,” McCullough said.
Greene County has been on a roll of late with six wins and a tie in its previous eight contests (6-1-1).
“They’re going to get their shots off and they’re going to have their opportunities but we can’t get behind like we did last year,” McCullough said.
