Soccer | 8/18/2022 2:37:00 PM

ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Mississippi Valley State University women's soccer program starts anew under the Friday Night Lights over the Mississippi Delta as the Southern Utah Thunderbirds travel over 1,500 miles from their nest to take on the Devilettes at 6 p.m. on August 19.


What You Need to Know:

• Time and Date: Friday, August 19, 2022 (6 p.m.)
• Video: N/A
• Audio: N/A
• Live Stats: N/A
• Tickets: N/A
• 2021 Records: Mississippi Valley State (0-13, 0-9 SWAC) | Southern Utah (2-13-2, 1-6-2 Big Sky)
• Location: Itta Bena, Mississippi – Mississippi Valley Soccer Complex
• Series History: Mississippi Valley State Leads 1-0
• Last Meeting: October 1, 2004 | Mississippi Valley State 4, Southern Utah 0 | Itta Bena, Mississippi (Mississippi Valley Soccer Complex)
• Winning Streak: Mississippi Valley State (W1) | Southern Utah's Last Win: N/A 
• All-Time History vs. WAC Opponents: Mississippi Valley State Leads 2-0

Returners:
 

• #1 McKenzie McCarthy (Sr. | Goalkeeper | Olive Branch, Mississippi | Olive Branch HS)
  • Leads all active players (D1) in career saves per game (8.11)
  • 7th among all active players (D1) in career saves (357)
  • Led NCAA in saves per game (12.58)
  • Led NCAA in total saves (151)

 

•  #3 Tallulah Nemet-Sargent (So. | Midfielder | Wellington, New Zealand | Queen Margaret HS)
  • 13 Complete Games, 1 Shot

 

• #9 Aryana Saenz (So. | Midfielder | Cape Coral, Florida | Mariner HS)
  • 10 Starts, 8 Complete Games, 1 Assist, 1 Point, 3 Shots-On-Goal, 1.000 Shot-On-Goal Percentage

 

• #10 Cielo Mazantini (Fr. | Midfielder | Bakersfield, California | Mariner HS)
  • 12 Complete Games

 

• #12 Cambree Catalano (So. | Midfielder | Houston, Texas | Channelview HS)
  • Did Not Play

 

• #16 Kayla Evans (So. | Defender / Forward | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Fort Lauderdale HS)
  • 11 Complete Games, 3 Shots-On-Goal, 1.000 Shot-On-Goal Percentage

 

• #20 Rahael Aka-Ety (Jr. | Bolgatanga, Ghana | Arizona Western CC | Bolgatanga HS)
  • 7 Starts, 6 Complete Games, 3 Points, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 4 Shots, 2 Shots-On-Goal, 0.500 Shot-On-Goal Percentage

Losses:
 

• Madeleine Hebert
  • Led Team in Shot% (1.000)
  • 13 Complete Games, 1 Goal, 2 Points
     
• Taiwo Badejo
  • 13 Complete Games, 5 Shots-On-Goal, 1.000 Shot-On-Goal Percentage

 

• Beatriz Kretteis
  • Led team in Points (5), Goals (2), and Assists (1)
  • 13 Complete Games, 13 Shots, 8 Shots-On-Goal, 0.615 Shot-On-Goal Percentage

 

• Mikayla Mikenzie
  • Did Not Play 

 

• Imani Walker
  • 1 Start, 23 Minutes

 

• Merica Abnathy
  • Led team in Goals (2), Shots-On-Goal (9), and Shots (17)
  • 12 Complete Games, 4 Points, 0.529 Shot-On-Goal Percentage

 

• Alice Kimutai
  • 1 Start, 67 Minutes

 

• Sierra Gray
  • Did Not Play

 

• Ananda Pritchett
  • 12 Complete Games

 

• Brianna Alston
  • 1 Complete Game

 
Newcomers:
 

• #2 Bailee Washington (Fr. | Forward / Defender | Birmingham, Alabama | Helena HS)
  • Five-year varsity starter, Helena High School's all-time leader in assists (61) and game-winning goals, scored 79 goals over 91 matches for 219 points, five-time All-Metro selection
     
• #6 Olujede Bridgewater (Fr. | Forward / Defender | Saint Kitts & Nevis | Basseterre HS)
  • Appeared in one friendly match for the Saint Kitts & Nevis National Team

 

• #7 Brooke Edyvane (Fr. | Midfielder | Hampshire, Portsmouth, England | Mayville HS)
  • Former member of the Barbados National Team, played for University of Portsmouth's U-15 and U16 squads

 

• #15 Zulema Salome (So. | Defender | San Juan, Puerto Rico | University of Puerto Rico | Colegio Santa Gema)
  • N/A

 

• #22 Ludesha Reynolds (Fr. | Goalkeeper | Georgetown, Guyana | Saint Joseph HS)
  • Former member of the Guyana National Team (U-17), competed in the CONCACAF qualifier, played for both Vurlon Mills Academy and club team Georgetown FC

 
Scouting The Southern Utah Thunderbirds:

The ladies from Cedar City, Utah are scheduled to play Alcorn in Vicksburg, Mississippi the day prior to Friday's match, dependent on weather conditions and are making their debut season in the WAC where they are projected to finish 11th.

SUU returns a quality netminder in Megan Short, who ended the campaign among the nation's top-25 in saves per game (6.27), top-45 for total saves (94), and the fourth highest save percentage in the Big Sky (0.803) a year ago.

Head Coach Kai Edwards also brings back the Big Sky's second-most accurate shooter from the 2021 squad as Ashley Rivera was on-target with 60.6% of her shot attempts.

While last season's team differs from the 2022 version, it will hope to retain its top-three conference corner kicks per game rate, averaging 4.12 last season,

*All stats are from the 2021 season.

Follow the Mississippi Valley State women's soccer program on Twitter (@ValleyStateSOC) and Instagram (@ValleyStateSOC).

Follow the Delta Devils and Devilettes on Facebook (Valley State Athletics), Twitter (@MVSUDevilSports) and Instagram (@ValleyStateAthletics).