Martin, Rebels savor 2020 soccer season
After helping the Ole Miss women's soccer team register double-digit victories in each of her first three seasons in Oxford, former ECS standout Molly Martin would be experiencing something different for her senior year.
Different in the sense that she'd never played the sport during a pandemic, and, because of COVID-19, it would have taken a near perfect season and a deep run into the Southeastern Conference Tournament to reach the number of wins that the Rebels were accustomed to earning.
“One day we would hear we were playing 10 games and then the next day, all right, we may get four games – and just so on,” Martin said. “And then we heard we were going to get eight SEC games and a guaranteed SEC Tournament. We were overly ecstatic and super thankful for the opportunity to even play.”
Ole Miss finished the regular season with a 4-4 record for a No. 6 seed in the tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. Following a first-round bye, the Rebels would drop a 2-1 overtime decision to LSU.
“The tournament games are always emotional because you know your season could be ending in 90 minutes,” said Martin. “We knew LSU was a good team, but we knew we could beat them, because we had. Unfortunately, we didn't. That game … bittersweet almost. It's your final one. You're going to give everything you have. You do every game, but just the way it turned out, was heartbreaking. No one ever wants to go out like that.”
Well, here's where the news gets a little better for Martin and the other four seniors on the roster. Should they choose to, they can accept another year of eligibility due to the pandemic. Therefore, as Martin put it, a ‘ Super Senior' year will allow her to play in the spring and next fall.
“This year was weird,” she said. “Only a few conferences played in the fall, and all the other conferences decided to play in the spring. In the end, everyone is just trying to get a bid into the NCAA Tournament at the end of the spring (2021).”
This development will allow Martin the chance to build on her late-season success, where she had two assists in a 4-3 victory over Georgia and chipped in another during a 2-1 overtime win against Vanderbilt, the eventual SEC Tournament champion.
“It was relieving in a sense because I had so many chances all season long off of my headers and hitting the post or the keeper making a great save,” she said. “And then the last two games of the season, we finally bagged those goals and it was just a weight lifted off my shoulders. The cover of the goal has finally come off.”
Said Ole Miss coach Matt Mott: “As a senior on our team, Molly has been through almost every different situation you could experience in the SEC. She has been there for the big moments and close games and knows what the pressure is like, and she has done a great job sharing that mindset with younger players in both training and games. She knows what it takes to win on this stage and she brings that competitive mentality every day, which helps raise the level of our team and players.”
Defeating the Bulldogs and Commodores also allowed the Rebels to slide into the No. 14 spot of the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
“I can't even put into words how excited our team was,” said Martin. “We kind of didn't get off to the best start and then in the middle of the season, the ball started rolling and then to beat those two teams, get ranked and show everyone that we were here to play and here to make a name for ourselves. It was awesome and so exciting.”
Now, as Ole Miss awaits official word on the spring season, Martin will be making preparations with a trio of former Memphis-area prep stars on the Rebels' roster: Sydney Ham (Briarcrest), Jenna Kemp (Houston) and Micaela Dusseault (Hutchison).
"It is awesome to have such a great connection with players in Memphis,” Mott said. “It is essentially in our backyard, and it has become a consistent pipeline to Ole Miss, with the level of soccer in that area continuing to progress. It also is a huge piece of our fan base, and it makes it that much more exciting to support our program with the local products we bring in.”
Desoto Co. excellence
The Mississippi Association of Coaches released its Class 5A All-state football team and six Desoto County players were recognized. Four were from Lake Cormorant: Gabe Cavazos, Jordan Martin, Tony Mccray and Kevin Frayle Ruiz, while Darryen Hobbs and Erik Covington represented Center Hill. … For their efforts in a 52-9 victory over Holmes, a pair of Desoto Countians – now at Itawamba – were honored by the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference. Quarterback Dylan Faulk (Hernando), who threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, was named Offensive Player of the Week. Kicker Shane Lasher (Olive Branch) was the Special Teams Player of the Week after converting on seven extra points and a field goal. … The five-member Union University volleyball signing class included two from Desoto County: Center Hill's Chloe Steen and Desoto Central's Gracie Tacker. Both helped their teams capture Mississippi High School Activities Association state championships – Steen (2019) and Tacker (2020).
Mid-south happenings
University of Memphis senior forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu was an American Athletic Conference women's basketball Weekly Honor Roll selection, following double-doubles against Saint Louis and Liberty. ... Memphis International Raceway has hired Sam Martin as its new general manager. Located in Millington, MIR is the Mid-south's largest motorsports facility. … Desoto Central High's Tyler Fennema, Sea Isle Elementary's Martha Shaw and Dexter Elementary's Maria Powell were the three latest winners of the Autozone Liberty Bowl and College Football Playoff Foundation's “Tag a Teacher” program. The trio will be presented with $500 Donorschoose gift cards that can be used for classroom instruction.
On the Links
MV Horne, of Cordova, aced the 107yard No. 3 using an 8-iron at Colonial Country Club.
Charlie Schaffler aced the 109-yard No. 7 at The Links at Galloway.
Charlie Overton aced the 140-yard No. 3 using a 9-iron at Covington Country Club.
Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact Chris Van Tuyl at christopher.vantuyl@commercialappeal.com