West Lauderdale girl’s soccer crowned 4A state champs

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) - West Lauderdale Lady Knights soccer beat Stone 5-0 to secure their fifth state championship in the last 8 years.

The Lady Knights had three players score in the game to lock in their first state championship since 2020.

Senior forward Kristen Phillips was the first player to score in the game. She had a penalty kick set up inside the goalie box that was caused from a Stone handball. Phillips goal was the first and only goal of the first half.

In the second half Phillips would score quickly again and set a new school career record for most goals in a career with 44 total goals.

Senior forward, Bailee Fairley was able to score two quick goals almost consecutively to bring the Lady Knights up 4-0 with 25 minutes still left in the game. After the game, she was named the game MVP after the game finishing her career as a Knight with 42 goals.

“I mean I was like, ‘I’ve got to score, I’ve got to score. I’ve got to get it back there,’” said Fairley after reflecting on her two goals. “I mean I’ve been working this whole time. I was like, ‘I’ve got to score, I want to score.’ So I was like settle, focus, breathe. I know I can do it so I was like score!”

To cap off the scoring spree, Alexa Shirley was able to knock the ball into the net after it originally deflected off the goal post. She hit the top of the goal post but it knocked down and crossed the line to give the Knights the 5-0 victory.

“I’m very proud,” said first year head coach Brandon Rogers. “They’ve worked very hard all year long. They’ve proven themselves time and time again out there on the field. They’ve done an amazing job from the beginning of the season until the very end of the season.”

Phillips said, “It feels really good. I’ve never been a state champion before but first time for everything.”

The Lady Knights finish the post season holding all their opponents scoreless. They also finish the season with 23 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie.

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