By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Dec. 4, 2003
With all 11 starters back from last year's 11-5-2 squad, the West Lauderdale High School girls' soccer team appears to be in fine shape in just its second year of existence.
The Lady Knights, who improved their record to 6-1-3 with a win over Neshoba Central on Monday, only lost four seniors from last season's team.
The Lady Knights have already captured two tournament titles on the young season.
West Lauderdale beat out Northeast Lauderdale in a shootout to win the Lauderdale County tournament at Northeast Park on Nov. 22.
The Lady Knights tallied a 3-1 win in the penalty-kick round, with goalkeeper Emmy Joyner stopping two Northeast penalty shots, hanging onto one ball that was shot directly at her and diving to her left to keep another shot out of the net. West Lauderdale also won the Laurel soccer tournament on Nov. 15.
Brown said while his team has gotten off to a good start this season, the Lady Knights still have plenty of things to work on this year.
The coach's biggest concern at the start of the 2003-04 campaign is on the offensive side of the pitch.
Brown also knows he has plenty of talented players who will be able to keep the team's fast start going throughout the season.
Brittany Uhl, a freshman striker, has provided a good amount of offensive punch for the Lady Knights, and her sister, Vanessa, is a stable force in the team's defensive backfield.
Rachel Reeves and Brook Bounds, who play on defense and in the midfield, respectively, are also two key returning figures on the field for West Lauderdale.
The Lady Knights are also getting solid play from Morgan Gullette, Sarah Birmingham and Kylie Rowell, along with a host of other players.