Volunteers get win with Mckee’s goal

Tanner Mckee unlocked an opportunity to score for the Starkville Academy Volunteers during Monday night's soccer match against East Rankin Academy.

Mckee hustled after the soccer ball and put a shot in the back of the net midway through the second half for the only goal of the match to help the Vols to a 1-0 victory at the Starkville Sportsplex.

On a damp and cool night, Mckee took advantage of a lapse in the East Rankin Academy defense and found a way to score.

“I just saw him being lazy to the ball so I just ran after it and got to it,” Mckee said. “We were mad how we played the first half so we decided to play our best and play hard. We had plenty of chances, but we just didn't finish like we wanted to.”

Starkville Academy soccer coach Chris Doss was not surprised to see that Mckee was the one that out-raced his defender and got into position to score.

“You can always count on him to chase that ball down,” Doss said of Mckee. “He gets a lot of chances that way. I really love that he does it.”

In the first half, there weren't many chances for either team. The Vols saw their opportunities increase around the goal in the second half and had about four shots go off the mark before Mckee was able to cash in.

“I think we had a few games like that where we create chances, but just couldn't put the ball in the goal and as a coach used to say, ‘put the biscuit in the basket,'” Doss said. “We're not putting the biscuit into the basket. It was good to come out with a win anyway.”

Starkville Academy, which improved to 6-4-1, travel to face rival Heritage Academy on Thursday.