Coming off the most successful season in program history, the Morgan County girls soccer team is entering a new chapter in 2026.
Last spring, the Lady Dogs made a memorable run to the Final Four, marking the deepest postseason finish the program has ever achieved. While that accomplishment set a new standard, it also came with change.
Morgan County graduated a large senior class, leaving head coach Anne Stamps and her staff with the task of rebuilding while maintaining the competitive identity established a year ago.
“We made it to the Final Four last year, and it’s the farthest we’ve ever been,” Stamps said. “We lost some strong seniors, so we’ve got a little rebuilding to do. But we’ve got some good young talent on this team, and we’re hoping to do well in the postseason.”
That youth was evident early in the season opener against Lake Oconee Academy on Tuesday, as Morgan County opened the year with several new faces seeing varsity minutes. Still, the Lady Dogs got a 5-0 win over the Lady Titans.
Stamps said she was pleased with the opening performance, especially given the lack of preseason scrimmages and the inexperience across the roster.
“It’s a hard-working group,” she said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but that’s a good thing. If we’re as good as we’re going to be in the first game of the season, that’s a problem.”
Leadership will be key as the season unfolds, and Stamps pointed to the team’s captains as players who will help guide the group through its growing pains. Junior Chloe Cook and seniors Molly Makaitas and Katherine Smyrl will be tasked with setting the tone on and off the field while helping younger players adjust to the varsity level.
Chemistry remains a focus, but Stamps believes cohesion will come with time and repetition.
“There are a lot of new faces, and that’s going to happen,” she said. “We’ve found things we need to work on, and we will.”
Morgan County’s schedule offers no shortage of challenges. Pike County, the defending state champion, and Callaway are both region opponents, creating immediate tests that will help define the Lady Dogs’ progress.
Despite the hurdles, Stamps is excited to watch her returning players step into expanded roles and embrace leadership responsibilities.
“I’m looking for some new people to show leadership,” she said. “The ones that have returned have to step up, and it’ll be fun to watch them take on that role.”
With expectations higher than ever, Morgan County enters the season focused on development, unity, and building toward another postseason push.