Vicksburg sophomore has 20 goals in less than 12 games

Mikayla Banks looks like a veteran when sprinting down the pitch, poking the ball past the back row of defenders and flying past them to bury a shot inside the penalty box. She looks like a veteran as she mills about the practice field, offering a nugget of advice to a teammate before jogging off to stretch with the wind beating down on her Vicksburg High soccer shirt. Truthfully, the only place where Banks doesn’t look like a veteran is on the roster sheet, where a bolded “10” sits under the grade section next to her name.

Warren County’s leading goal scorer might not be old enough to watch an R-rated movie yet, but she’s experienced enough to be the cornerstone of the Missy Gators’ success this season as she carries them toward a division championship.

“I just try to get the kids coming in to learn from her,” Vicksburg coach Karen Carroll said. “She feels like she’s an old veteran here, but she’s got two more years to go.”

The sophomore has already notched 20 goals this season for the Missy Gators as they jumped out to a 6-1 record — the record excludes early-season classic and tournament games, although Banks’ goals from those games are included in her total — and a 2-0 start in division play. The Missy Gators can sew up the division title tonight with a convincing win at Callaway.

Carroll describes her as “a finisher if I’ve ever seen one” who can find the net better than any player she’s ever coached.

Banks’ calling card is her speed, which she uses to power past defenders to create scoring opportunities for herself and others.

“That’s what I do most of the time, but if I have someone open, then I’ll pass and let them get it back to me or I’ll do a move and try to get around them and look for someone so that they can give it back to me,” Banks said.

Watching Banks glide past other players like she’s on figure skates has been a welcome sight to Vicksburg fans over the past four seasons.

Banks has been a starter since she was in seventh grade and won The Vicksburg Post’s Girls Soccer Player of the Year award last season.

In her four varsity seasons, Banks has scored 70 goals ­— and counting.

“Once she’s on a breakaway, there’s pretty much no one that I’ve seen — maybe one or two — that can go step-for-step with her once she’s made that step around,” said Carroll, who has coached high school and youth soccer for more than two decades. “Once she’s made that step and her touch is right, it’s over.”

Banks’ soccer acumen and raw talent has vaulted her to the top of Warren County girls players as a mere sophomore, and her coach raved about both her ability to play and lead.

“I can’t say enough great things about her,” Carroll said. “She’s just a sophomore, and we talked about this some time ago, but last year when she was a freshman, I said she was going to be the team captain soon.”

But for now, the young veteran is just enjoying her recent success as she sprints past the competition.

“I feel great,” Banks said. “I try and be a leader to my other teammates. My goal is to make my parents and everyone proud.”