Video: Lady Vols Soccer Make History With First Title

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — The 2016 Starkville Academy Lady Vols soccer team are now the first state championship team in the history of the school.

Starkville Academy went 13-1-1 on its way to a 3-2 victory over Hartfield Academy for the Division Three title.

“It’s a goal we’ve set for a long time, and it’s just great that we’ve accomplished it,” senior forward Sydney Passons said.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“It really hasn’t sinked in that much but it feels pretty great”, senior left midfielder Shelton Spivey.

“I’m glad we could make it this far and get the win.”

Spivey and Passons both said this is a group of seven seniors that have been playing together since they were five years old.

While the championship season is a sure thing, having a head coach to start the year was uncertain.

That’s when head coach Matt Sykes stepped in, and helped lead the team to its historic season.

“Coach Sykes had a really big role in what we were trying to do and what we accomplished because we needed someone just like him,” Passons said. “Someone young, someone fresh, someone who really had the same ideas that we did, and could execute them like we wanted too.”

“First practice I had with them, the chemistry was already there”, Sykes said, “They knew their formation, and they knew where to go and the way that they played showed they’ve been playing for years.It really showed me that this can be a team right here, this is a special group.”

For Sykes, the championship trophy is something he’s been waiting for his entire soccer career.

“Chasing this trophy for so many years back at my old high school, it’s crazy to think I got it in my first year coaching,” Sykes said, “It definitely is a sweet taste.”

Sykes said 2017 is “promising” for the Lady Vols even with the loss of seven seniors.

Sykes said many of the young players were able to contribute in key roles, and the talent will be there.

“[The state title] gives us a good building block to go off of,” Sykes said, “You always want to be successful and the best way to start it is to win it. It gives us more motivation to get back there next year and the coming years.”

Passons was the team’s leading goal scorer, with 26 total. She is still deciding what her future holds.

Spivey was second on the squad in goals scored, and will attend Mississippi State University.