McGuire Labels 2000 a 'Step In The Right Direction'
May 25, 2016 | Soccer
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Although falling a goal short in the quest for its first-ever bid to the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament, Mississippi State head soccer coach Neil McGuire called his team's 2000 campaign something to be proud of as his squad anxiously awaits the start of the 2001 season.
"I think we should be very happy with the overall performances this season," McGuire said. "Our players definitely took a big step forward in their learning curve of soccer. In terms of how the season ended, our players got very close to making the SEC Tournament, which was our ultimate goal this season. That, in essence, is our unfinished business.
"Next year we want to make sure that we compete in every game and put ourselves in a position to make the SEC Tournament."
After being predicted to finish last in its six-team SEC Western Division, State reeled off its most conference victories in school history to finish in a tie for third in the division, that too being the best conference finish in school history. As the season came to a close, MSU had collected first-time victories over Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee to put themselves in position to achieve its ultimate goal - a qualifying spot in the conference tournament.
"I had consistently told the girls that there was more in them. They just had to bring it out," McGuire said. "Against Alabama, they really did bring out the intensity and desire that they had within themselves. Once they saw what they were capable of, they then began to produce that kind of performance consistently for the rest of the season, hence the win against Tennessee and South Carolina and the tie against Ole Miss. All of those games were excellent games for us."
State turned in a noticeable improvement this season, concluding its season with a 8-11-1 record, its best record since 1997. Included in that progress is an increase in a number of statistical areas from last season. The Maroons posted significant improvements over last season in goals (+300%), assists (+444%) and points (+342%).
But, as McGuire points out, the improvements were due largely in part to his squad's focus on team chemistry. From the start of fall practice in early August, the coaching staff and players put a primary focus on the topic.
"I don't think the team recognized just how imperative team chemistry was, and now that they do understand its importance and how much it can improve the team performance on the field, it will remain our focus" McGuire said. "We'll continue to work very hard to improve it, consistently, from now until their graduation."
As the team now heads into the offseason, McGuire will assess his personnel and the things that his young team, as well has himself, learned this season. He believes 2001 holds brighter things in store for his program.
"I feel that our girls deserved to have an opportunity to play in the SEC Tournament," McGuire said. "But, the same can be said from other coaches when talking about their own team. We had an opportunity throughout the season to make sure that we did go, but we didn't take advantage of that. I believe it will just fuel the fire for next year.
"I think that we have a belief in ourselves and a belief in this program that we can take it further, simply because we did play and compete against those good teams. This season certainly gives our players a real taste of what is possible here at Mississippi State."
