EMCC set to kick off 2025 soccer season with Thursday home exhibition doubleheader vs. The W

SCOOBA – The East Mississippi Community College men's and women's soccer teams are set to kick off the third season of the Lions' reinstated program by playing host to The W on Thursday (Aug. 21) in Scooba. Season-opening exhibition doubleheader soccer action is slated to begin at 5 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field with no charge for admission.

After completing their exhibition soccer slate at Millsaps College on Aug. 26, the Lions will play back-to-back road doubleheaders in the state of Missouri by taking on St. Charles Community College on Aug. 29 in Cottleville before heading to Mineral Area College to play the following day (Aug. 30) in Park Hills.

September soccer action begins on the second day of the month when the EMCC men's team travels to Hanceville, Alabama to meet Wallace State Community College. A week later (Sept. 10), the Lions return to their neighboring state to play the Southern Union State men in Opelika. In between those Alabama road dates, both EMCC squads will be in home action on Sept. 5, with the men playing host to LSU Eunice followed by an EMCC Alumni Game featuring former Lion soccer players.

Following a non-conference home twin bill versus MACCC foe Hinds on Sept. 12, East Mississippi's conference soccer slate will officially kick off at Northwest Mississippi on Sept. 16. Subsequent league road matches for the Lions will take place on the campuses of Hinds (Sept. 26), Meridian (Oct. 7) and East Central (Oct. 14). EMCC's regular-season road finale against Holmes (Oct. 24) will be played in Ridgeland.      

EMCC's home conference soccer action in 2025 is scheduled to get started on Sept. 19 versus Copiah-Lincoln and will be followed the ensuing six weeks by home MACCC doubleheaders against Southwest Mississippi (Sept. 23), Itawamba (Oct. 3), Pearl River (Oct. 10), Mississippi Gulf Coast (Oct. 21) and Jones (Oct. 28).

Rounding out EMCC's soccer slate for the coming season will be a return men's contest, Sept. 29, on the Scooba campus against Southern Union State. On that same date, the EMCC women will begin a home-and-home series versus the University of Mobile reserve team that will conclude with a road matchup against the Rams on Oct. 17.    

Looking to move forward from their first two rebuilding seasons of soccer competition on the Scooba campus since 2009, East Mississippi looks to field improved men's and women's teams as the 2025 season gets underway. With third-year head coach Chris Rash back at the coaching helm of both EMCC soccer squads, he'll be joined on the sidelines again this season by second-year assistant coach Ryan Theriot. The two were previously together on the pitch as coach and player at Hinds.

EMCC's four men's players back from last year's team are Kellen Breedlove (Northwest Rankin HS), Khoa Le (Starkville HS), Henry Salvador (Leake Central HS), and Cody Yauch (East Central HS).   

The Lions' 19 men's newcomers include six international players – three from Spain (Daniel Abreu, Raul Escolano & Bentchey Garcia) and one each from Romania (Madalin Secarea), England (Matthew Halliday) and Costa Rica (Roberth Campos). Abreu is a transfer from Harcum College in Pennsylvania.

The other 13 newcomers on the men's side all hail from the state of Mississippi, including former high school teammates from Northeast Lauderdale (Caden Pearsell & Matthew Wolvers), Hernando (Zander McBride & Daniel van Beurden) and Canton (Alexis Alfaro & Ronal Lopez). Other Magnolia State products joining the Lions this year are Kameron Armstrong (Murrah HS), Charles Coody (Clarkdale HS), Southwest Mississippi CC transfer Michael Godshaw (Warren Central HS), Hunter McMillon (Greene County HS), Braylon Nicholson (Terry), Jace Street (Manchester Academy), and Jonah Wright (Caledonia HS).   

On the women's side, six players return from last year's EMCC team, while a pair of international players (Magda Kluczniok of Poland & England's Tate Willis) will be among the group of 14 newcomers.

Back in the fold after starting as freshmen a year ago are Miller Blaylock (Magnolia Heights HS), goalkeeper Marli Castillo (Morton HS), Katelyn Fulgham (Grenada HS), former West Lauderdale High School teammates Anslee Mason and Ella Morse, and Josie Wiggins (Lamar School).

All but one of EMCC's additional dozen incoming players come from the Mississippi prep ranks, including the Caledonia High School tandem of Evie Crane and Ally Boykin as well as former Ridgeland High School teammates Shirly Rivera and Kamyia Fultz. Fultz transferred from Hinds CC. Also from the Magnolia State are freshmen Abigail Black (Heritage Academy), Olivea Goodman (Enterprise HS), Anna Riley Kelly (Manchester Academy), Makiya Pickens (Southeast Lauderdale HS), Bella Miller (Lamar School), Ainsley Orr (Brookhaven Academy), and Lizzie Verucchi (Cathedral Catholic School). Rounding out the women's newcomer group for the Lions is Savannah Scott of Holtville High School in Deatsville, Alabama.