OXFORD - For the Franklin County Lady Soccer team a 4-hour trip to the Ole Miss soccer camp served as a vacation of fun, sun, games, and teamwork all wrapped into one last week. Franklin County was the only Southwest Mississippi school at the 16-team camp that is one of the best in the Southeast.

"We had a great time at the Ole Miss Camp," said Yarbrough, who will be entering his fourth year as FC Soccer Dawgs head coach. "Summer camps like this only make you better I feel."

The camp ended a long summer of workouts for the team from Soccerfest at the Brookhaven Sports Complex two weeks ago to voluntary workouts in Bude. Coaches Ben Yarbrough and Amanda Upton took their 14-member squad to the Ole Miss soccer camp to improve there craft and award the girls for their hardwork.

"It's something we all needed, I learned a lot and I know our girls learned a lot too," continued Yarbrough.

Yarbrough and Upton, a former FC soccer and softball standout herself, coached FC to a school record 14-6 finish last season, which ended with a lost at Greene County in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

"We had a good year last year," said Yarbrough. "We've come along ways as a team and a program."

At the Ole Miss camp, Franklin High beat soccer power New Hope twice in a three game series. In game one Karlee Mullins scored two goals and Reid once to give FC a 3-2 victory. Goal keeper Haley Neatherland collected the win. Kate Brasher, April Watson, and Reid each provided an assist.

In game two, Mullins again collected two goals, but it wasn't enough as FC lost to New Hope 5-4. Reid and Watson scored the other lone goals. Game three of the series was a classic, as FC won 5-4, off three goals from Reid. Added goals from Mullins and Kate Brasher sealed it. The game came down to a 7-goal extra-period sudden death shootout.

"The way we won against New Hope was awesome, said Yarbrough. "Overall at the camp we played some team games and some 6-on-6 games. As a whole, we continued to learn.

Getting his younger players expereince was also key. Several of the younger Lady Bulldogs played against some top players from Mississippi and Tennessee at the camp.

Kate Brasher, a FC rising junior finished the camp with six assists. Yarbrough and Upton expect Brahser to be one of the area's top players this season.

"Kate showed some good leadership skills at the camp and worked hard," added Yarbrough. "We only have one senior on our team for this year, so we're going to be counting on our underclassmen to step up."

Yarbrough must replace two seniors he lost to graduation in his daughter Caroline Yarbrough (Co-Lin signee) and Beth Shell (Co-Lin Signee). Yarbrough is the school's goal queen with a school and district record 87 goals.

Rising 8th grade sensation Karlee Mullins may be the next FC scorer in line, however, Mullins drew rave reviews at the camp, most notably from former La. Tech coach Jenn Burns, who helped the FC team with fundmentals and alignments as a camp assistant. Mullins, a forward plated 11 goals last season for FHS, she scored five goals at the Ole Miss camp.

Rising junior Courtney Reid, also scored five goals at the camp and also impressed coaches with her athletic prowess.

"Both Courtney and Karlee scored five goals apiece," said Yarbrough. "That kept us in the New Hope series, and really played hard. Our whole team did good."

Representing FC at the camp was Katherine Scarbrough, Karlee Mullins, Rachel Griffin, April Watson, Jennifer Thornton, Haley Netherland, Hope Shell, Lilliian Woods, Charity Edney, Emily Zumbro, Anna Pickett, Regan Scott, Kate Brasher, and Courtney Reid.

Each member of the team received an Ole Miss T-Shirt and soccer ball for their hard work and play.

FC SOCCER FUNDRAISER ANNOUNCED

Coaches Yarbrough and Upton have also announced that the team will be holding the following fund raiser to benifit the

FC Soccer Program on August 7th (Election Day) by selling Bowie's Catfish dinner plates from 11-1 in Peoples Bank Parking Lot (Bude).

Plates will be $6.50, and will be served with fish, fries, slaw, and hushpuppies.

Proceeds will help benifit the rising FC Lady Dawgs Soccer Program, which made it to the playoffs for the first time in school history last season.