[10/23/02]The curtain is closing on the soccer regular season for Hinds Community College, and if a trio of Warren County natives have their way against Shelton State today, the Lady Eagles will step to the big stage of the South State tournament Saturday with an untainted 13-0 record.

The Lady Eagles, who placed fourth in the National Women’s Soccer Championships last year, are not the type of program that bothers rebuilding they just reload.

And some of their finest weapons have come from the Warren County playing fields.

Vicksburg graduates Michelle Beatty and Cassie Griffing, both freshmen, have supplied the offensive firepower for the undefeated Lady Eagles, becoming the scoring focal points after leading scorer Allison Mullen’s season was cut short by injury.

Griffing, a midfield starter, and Beatty, a forward, are the second and third-leading scorers on the team. But that aside, the two have provided leadership for a team that starts five freshmen.

“Michelle is one of the team’s captains and they have really stepped up since the loss of Allison, and we have come to rely more on them each week,” Lady Eagles coach Patti Johnson said.

If Beatty has felt the pressure of her expanded role with the South State championship looming ahead, it couldn’t be detected on the field where she has scored nine goals.

“I was real surprised with how good (the Lady Eagles) would be after coming from Vicksburg where we won so much,” Beatty said. “I haven’t been as nervous as the other girls because I know what to expect from the competition.”

The inner competition on the Lady Eagles may be the catalyst for the team’s success as the former Missy Gators compete for the title of highest scorer. Griffing is currently in the lead with 10 goals on the year.

“I know everyone has a good foot and can score, and it means a lot to me that Vicksburg players are leading the team,” said Griffing, who helped the Missy Gators win three of their five state championships in her career at Vicksburg.

With all the offensive fireworks Griffing and Beatty provide, Johnson is quick to point out that the team’s success wouldn’t be possible without their solid defense.

“I’d call them aggressive, but they’re not going to foul,” Johnson said. “We have only been scored on by four teams.”

The defense has been led in part by ex-Warren Central star Melanie Mendrop. The sophomore is the last line of defense for the Lady Eagles’ from her sweeper position.

“She is a leader,” Johnson said. “She leads by example and by how she plays.”

If the Lady Eagles can sustain their offensive momentum and their defensive dominance, there is no reason they can’t top last year’s performance, Beatty said.

“I see us making it to nationals,” Beatty said. “I’ve never been, don’t know what to expect and I’m not making any assumptions, but I see us making it there.”