East Central Community College Head Women's Soccer Coach Ryan Joiner has announced the new members of the Lady Warrior soccer team who will join the program in Decatur starting in fall 2020.
They include:
Makaylin Alex
High School: Neshoba Central High School/Philadelphia
Position: Midfielder/Winger
Major: Physical Therapy
"Makaylin is a player who I have had my sights on for the past two years and we are delighted to have her join the Lady Warriors," said Joiner. "Makaylin can play as an attacking midfielder and has the ability to pick a pass from dangerous areas. We see Makaylin developing into a tactically savvy midfielder who can breakdown teams off a dribble or with her vertical passing. Makaylin played for Coach Jared Lee at Neshoba Central High School in 2020."
Laykin Beech
High School: Greene County High School/Leakesville
Club Team: Gulf Coast United FC
Position: Defender
Major: Pharmacy
"Laykin is a fullback who comes to EC after several years of playing for a top club team in Gulf Coast United and for coach Janna Maxwell at Greene County," said Joiner. "She has grown into a very good defender who likes to get forward from an outside back position, but is also disciplined enough to be a defender first. Laykin will add physicality to the defense and has the ability to come in and fight for a position in the first 11 in the fall of 2020."
Sasha Clare
High School: Grosvenor Grammar School/Belfast, Northern Ireland
Club Team: Crusaders FC/Northern Ireland U-19s
Position: Fullback/Wingback
Major: Sport Management/Business
"Sasha is a fantastic addition for the Lady Warriors in 2020 with a very high pedigree of playing at the highest levels in Europe," said Joiner. "Sasha comes from the top club in Northern Ireland and has featured as a left fullback for the U-19 Northern Ireland National Team. Sasha is a defender who can get up and down the channels and provide support in the field third, but also offers cover for the team from a deep lying position and isn't shy in the tackle. She has a phenomenal left foot and will provide crosses from dangerous areas in the fall of 2020."
Olivia Clark
High School: Newton County High School/Decatur
Club Team: Brandon FC-Rush FC
Position: Goalkeeper
Major: Pre-Medicine
"Olivia is who I consider the top goalkeeper in the state in the 2020 class," said Joiner. "She is a fantastic shot stopper; but what separates her for us is how she can play out with her feet and can pick a pass downfield to break opponents down with one ball. Olivia works extremely hard and has been a mainstay for coach Zac Foreman at Newton County the past four seasons. You can see that Olivia is driven to be an excellent player and has a massive upside."
Seline Decoteau
High School: Resurrection Catholic School/Pascagoula
Club Team: Gulf Coast United FC
Position: Defender
Major: Undecided
"Seline is a defender who comes to EC after playing for coach Steve Simkins at Resurrection Catholic," said Joiner. "Seline has been well coached to play the game in a manner that suits her and she will slot right into EC as a defender and possibly a holding midfielder. She has a great tenacity to play the game at its highest level and she will offer tough tackling in her defensive responsibilities, but will also be able to pick the right pass to get our team forward in 2020."
Gabby Falla
High School: Sacred Heart Catholic School/Hattiesburg
Club Team: Hattiesburg FC
Position: Midfielder
Major: Business/Marketing
"Gabby is a talented midfielder who comes from a high school with a tradition of winning where she played for her grandfather, Joe Falla, Sr.," said Joiner. "Gabby is a competitor and will come in and compete for a spot in the midfield in 2020. Her range of passing is very good and Gabby can stretch teams in behind with her ability to hit diagonal balls. We expect Gabby to come into EC and offer a big personality and high work rate for her team in the fall."
Jaden Ham
High School: Greene County High School/Leakesville
Position: Forward
Major: Psychology
"Jaden is a winger and forward who has phenomenal speed and pace up front," said Joiner. "She will be dangerous as a wide player or a center forward with her ability to get in behind teams. I had the pleasure of coaching Jaden at Ocean Springs High School and she has a big upside for the future after playing for Coach Janna Maxwell the past few years. Jaden will come to the team and compete for playing time as a freshman. We are excited to have Jaden with the Lady Warriors in 2020."
Megan Harris
High School: Harris Academy Morden, London, England
Club Team: Queens Park Rangers
Position: Forward
Major: Sports Medicine
"Meg comes to EC from Queens Park Rangers in London and will play as a forward or winger for the Lady Warriors in 2020," said Joiner. "Megan has really good speed and loves playing off the shoulder of defender, but can also run at players to create her own opportunities. We are excited to see Meg come in and add a bit of flare and direct running at players; she will add a dimension to our team that we can see helping push us further into the playoffs this season."
Belle Miller
High School: George County High School/Lucedale
Club Team: Gulf Coast United FC
Position: Midfielder
Major: Undecided
"Belle is a tremendous holding midfielder who is coming from a program where she has been well coached and versed in the art of defending by coach Brittain Dean," said Joiner. "Belle has a great foundation for what I look for in a holding midfielder and will be a very important part of our team for 2020. I expect Belle to come in and make significant contributions to the Lady Warriors this fall. She will not only be an excellent soccer player, but a great teammate as well."
Molly Moore
High School: Northeast Lauderdale High School/Meridian
Club Team: Brandon FC-Rush FC
Position: Defender
Major: Physical Therapy
"Molly is a multi-sport athlete who will come into EC and be a solidified defender and will help anchor the backline for 2020," said Joiner. "Molly played soccer, basketball, and softball in high school and will play both soccer and softball for the Lady Warriors at ECCC. She has been well coached by her club coaches at BFC and Rush, too. Molly is first and foremost and competitor and will provide leadership to the team. She will come in and continue to help our team that has improved defensively over the past two seasons."
Nicole O'Neill
High School: Pobalscoil Iosolde/Johnstown, Dublin, Ireland
Club Team: St. Josephs FC
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Major: Sports Medicine
"Nicole is a very good player who is coming over as a forward, but we can see her dropping into an attacking midfield role in 2020," said Joiner. "She is quick with her thinking and has the ability to beat the first defender each time she picks up the ball. We expect Nicole to come in and add goals and assists from both the forward and midfield positions and offer creative 1v1 situations for herself."
Loren Winters
High School: Ocean Springs High School
Club Team: Gulf Coast United FC
Position: Center Back
Major: Criminal Justice or Nursing
"Loren is the typical center back we look for at East Central, in that she has loads of pace and can also play out from the back," said Joiner. "Loren will be the fastest player in our league and we believe she will anchor a defense that only allowed 1.4 goals per game last season. I was fortunate to coach Loren in high school for two years and have seen the strides she has made under coach Neil Scott since then, and we are excited to see her continue to develop into a complete player."