Starkville’s strategy in district game leads to five-goal night for Rodgers

Focusing in practice can be the avenue toward success.

Starkville High School freshman girls soccer player Meg Rodgers found that out to be true recently.

Prior to Tuesday's Class 6A, Region 3 match against South Panola, the Lady Yellow Jackets came up with a plan of attack.

Rodgers was the player to benefit from the strategy as she went out and scored five goals in a 7-0 mercy rule victory.

For her performance, Rodgers was chosen this week's OCH Regional Medical Center Athlete of the Week by the Starkville Daily News sports staff.

“I was just trying to take as many open shots as I could and they just started falling into the goal,” Rodgers said. “I just didn't want to stop. Working with my team going up the field just equalled more goals.”

Rodgers also scored a goal one week ago against Caledonia to ensure a 2-2 result.

As a freshman at SHS, Rodgers is still young in terms of varsity experience, but she has been playing soccer since she was in the seventh grade.

It didn’t take long for Lady Jacket girls coach Abby Phillips to realize Rodgers' commitment to the game and academics.

“She has been playing soccer for as long as I've been in Starkville,” Phillips said. “Ever since I first saw first her play, I knew she was truly a special soccer player. She excels in the classroom and puts her everything into it when she steps onto the field so I'm super excited for what's in store for Meg.”

Starkville plays at Germantown in its next district match on Friday. The Lady Jackets lost to Germantown in their last meeting so Rodgers knows the 7-0 result against South Panola will help toward the goal of making the playoffs.

“Getting those extra points will boost us up,” Rodgers said. “We've just got to keep going.”