MORGAN COUNTY
After a disappointing loss to Cherokee Bluff in the Elite Eight round of the Class 3A state playoffs last year, Morgan County girls soccer has started out the 2023 season with an 8-0 record.
The Lady Bulldogs learned a lot from that loss last year and have been on a tear as of late.
“Obviously, we’re pleased with the record,” Morgan County head coach Anne Stamps said. “We have a team that has played together for quite a few years now. So, we expected to have a great season coming in. Last year, we only graduated two seniors and the core of the team is back together, which is always promising, and they’re just a good group of girls. They enjoy being and playing together, making them an easy group to coach.”
Morgan County has combined to outscore its opponents 54-3 in its opening eight contests in 2023. The Lady ‘Dogs entered the week averaging nearly seven goals per contest as well.
Camp’s squad is currently 6-0 in Region 4-AAA and in first place in the standings.
Most recently, it defeated Harlem (4-1) and the Academy of Richmond County (5-1) in league play.
However, Morgan County will have to face some tough non-region opponents in higher classifications to close out 2023. The Lady Dogs are set to square off against Apalachee (3/16), Eastside (3/21), Clarke Central (3/28) and Ola (3/30) in the coming weeks of the season.
Despite some of Morgan County’s non-region opponent’s records being great, Camp believes these matches will be a great “measuring stick” for the Lady ‘Dogs as they prepare for the Class 3A state playoffs, which are set to begin during the first week of April.
“Those games will help us see where we are at going in,” Camp said. “But so far, so good.”
Morgan County junior goalkeeper McKinsey Williams has been a huge part of the team’s success. So far, the three-year starter has pitched five shutouts already in 2023. Also, juniors Rylee Bernard, Lofton Cathey and Camp Stamps have each contributed this season.
The Lady Dogs also have a strong senior class with players such as Avery Mize, Sidda Outlaw, Daphne Lopez and Morgan McCormack, among others, who have helped lead the way. They each have come up big in different moments throughout the course of the year.
According to Camp, the sophomore and freshman classes are top-heavy with talent as well.
“Kate (Reynolds) has played well for us as a sophomore. She played some varsity last year. Her game has matured and she has really settled in on the field,” Camp added. “We also have Jaden (Young), another sophomore, who is going to help us out a lot down the stretch.”
One of the biggest components that Camp instills in her players is communication, and she feels as if they already do a “great job” of that. It’s something they did last season as well.
“Last year, we talked a lot about communication. And this year, we’re continuing that focus,” Camp said. “The girls have bought in and it’s clicking. They’re enjoying communicating on the field and are seeing the fruits of that labor right now. They see when we have breakdowns on the field, it seems to revolve around not communicating enough. So, we have been preaching that they need to communicate at all times during games.”
The Lady Dogs continued their schedule this week with road matches against Salem and Hephzibah. They will also be playing at Cross Creek (3/14) and Apalachee (3/16) next week.