By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
The Marbury girls’ soccer team won more than 40 games the last two seasons, including a stint ranked as the #1 team in Class 5A this season and advancing to the program’s first ever Final Four. Coach Brent Sowell realized during the preseason that the 2023 team was going to be special, and recalled a discussion with goalkeeper and team captain, Mackenzie Smith, about the Bulldogs making the Class 5A Final Four in Huntsville.
“We knew preseason that the season had the potential to be special and we made, ‘Be the Edge’ our motto for this year. I challenged the girls to prepare themselves in the weight room, in film study and in practice to become the edge we needed over the teams we would face. I could see early on they bought in to that and we were able to have a very successful season.”
The team had an impressive senior class, filled with players that earned athletic scholarships, and others that earned academic scholarships.
Team captain and goalkeeper Mackenzie Smith was a six-year starter for the Bulldogs. After splitting two games against Sylacauga in the regular season, the Bulldogs won the rubber match in the post-season. “My favorite memory was beating Sylacauga in the second round of the playoffs. So many people doubted our ability to beat them twice and we did.” Smith signed an athletic scholarship to play at Southern Union. It will be Southern Union’s first year with a girls’ soccer program, and Smith is looking forward to the opportunity to help build the program. “Southern Union was an unanswered prayer,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to continue my soccer career as a Bison.”
LeAnna Causey played forward for the Marbury soccer team. She felt like advancing past the 1st round of the playoffs was the biggest challenge for the team, because it was something the team had never accomplished prior to the 2023 season. “We had a lot of people that believed in our ability to make it to the second round, so that put a lot of pressure on our shoulders. Luckily we handle pressure well and put three points on the board to secure the win.” Causey has signed an athletic scholarship to William Penn University in Iowa. “I decided to go to William Penn because the head coach, Coach Andy, reached out to me and actually offered me a scholarship based upon Coach Sowell’s description of my style of play on the field, so big shout out to DJ Sowell! I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to play soccer in college without his help.”
Emma Wainwright also played forward for the Marbury soccer team. Wainwright appreciated the support received from the soccer community. “Marbury had a great team and family with all the parents always being there to support us and providing meals for the team. Many parents came to both games no matter if their kid was on the boys’ team and not the girls’ team to just support everyone.” Wainwright signed an athletic scholarship with Bluefield State University based in West Virginia. “Bluefield State University is a great school. I have visited the school and met the team and the coach, and they are really sweet people that made me feel welcomed and they are excited to have me. Other than the good soccer program, they have a great engineering program that I will be attending in the fall.”
Laken Kay was a defender for the Marbury soccer team. Her favorite moment of the season came in overtime of the area game against Sylacauga when she took a free kick and Meya James scored on a header. “Winning that game was a huge confidence booster for the whole team.” Her favorite win, however, was against Elmore County in the 1st round of the playoffs. “It was the first playoff game our team had ever won. Everyone on the team worked so hard for it and it was so exciting seeing all that work pay off.” Kay earned the Outstanding Scholars Award Scholarship at AUM by maintaining a GPA of 4.3 and scoring a 30 on her ACT. “I chose AUM because it is a great school and I can live at home while saving money for medical school.”
Midfielder Kynadi Fairchild also earned a full academic scholarship to Brigham Young University.
Head Coach Sowell will always remember the accomplishments and closeness of the 2023 team. “Years from now when I look back, I will always remember how much they cared for one another and played for one another. The wins were good, making it to the Final Four was great, but what was most special to me will always be the legacy of teamwork and love that this team leaves behind for future Marbury players. They truly displayed our belief that soccer at Marbury High School is a family.”
The Marbury girls’ soccer team had significant accomplishments on the field and in the classroom during the 2023 season, and the scholarships earned are a reflection of a strong culture throughout the program. Congrats and good luck to the graduates that are embarking on the next phase of their academic and athletic careers.
