[11/11/04]Warren Central’s girls soccer team reached the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs last season, and coach Kristin Gough believes that’s just he beginning.

With a team that returns nearly everybody from last year’s roster, the Lady Vikes are poised to battle Vicksburg for county girls soccer supremecy.

“Last year was a great year for us and I was pleased,” said Gough, who’s entering her second year as WC coach. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect and the girls didn’t either of a new coach. But we had a very successful season.”

The Lady Vikes are fresh off a 2-1 win over No. 7 Northwest Rankin on Tuesday night and will ride the solid play of senior goalie Emily Coker.

She has allowed four goals in three games so far this season, and held ranked Ridgeland to only one goal.

She’ll be backed up by a team that is still extremely young. Kara Cretsinger and Megan Wolebon are the only two seniors on the team, and there are only four juniors.

The Lady Vikes won the first round playoff series on the Gulf Coast last season, which Gough said was huge for a young team’s confidence.

“The core of our team is returning, so them winning that playoff series was really important,” Gough said.

WC boys have new look in 2004

Forgive Jay Harrison if he doesn’t recognize his team for the early part of the season.

Most of them are brand new.

The Vikings lost nine starters, the starting goalie and the bulk of their offensive production to graduation last season, and Harrison is trying to find the right mix of players to get a young team back to prominence.

“This team has no varsity experience at all,” said Harrison, who will platoon players freely. “This is the first opportunity that we’ve had to play a lot of guys.”

A schedule that includes Madison Central and Meridian will force WC to grow up quickly.

“This year will have its ups and downs, but we will take all