ELLISVILLE – Jones College will have a young team heading into the 2025 season.
 
The Bobcats will have 16 freshmen on the roster compared to only eight sophomores.
 
But 18th-year head coach Dolores Deasley says the new players will make a positive impact on the program.
 
"They have all come from winning programs whether it be club or high school, so they have a good understanding of what it takes to be successful," said Deasley, who has compiled a 220-54-11 record during her tenure at Jones, including an NJCAA Division II championship in 2023. "They have all been looking great in preseason training, so we are just ready to get the season rolling at this point and start enjoying the competition."
 
The Bobcats do return Sherline King from last season's team which went 11-4-1.
 
King, a sophomore forward from Panama, was named an NJCAA Division II First Team All-American, a United Soccer Coaches All-American, NJCAA All-Region 23 and First Team All-MACCC. She led the conference in goals with 25 and points with 60, finishing in the top 10 in NJCAA Division II in both categories. She was named MACCC Player of the Week four times.
 
Other returning sophomores are midfielders Riley Rolison (Long Beach) and Jordan Robinson (Brandon), forwards Mary Grace Batson (Stone) and Catherine Turner (Presbyterian Christian School), defenders Hope Welsh (England) and Pressley Carothers (Long Beach) and midfielder/defender McKenzie Conner (Brandon).
 
"The sophomore class as a whole will play a huge role in our success this year," Deasley said. "Their experience from last year and the hunger and drive they have to be successful I believe will prove invaluable."
 
Deasley added that limiting injuries to a minimum will be a major factor in the team's success this fall.
 
"We have a lot of talent and a lot of depth in the squad this year, so keeping people healthy will be the key," she said. "The MACCC is among the nation's best. Northwest won the national championship last year and is rated No. 1 in the preseason poll. Holmes is rated No. 4 and Pearl River is ranked 15."
 
Deasley said it will be a wide open race to determine the league champion.
 
"All the teams are battling," she said. "Our league has grown stronger and stronger throughout the 18 years I have been here which is great to see. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day, so we treat every game and opponent with the same level of respect."
 
Jones prides itself on playing a difficult non-conference schedule and this year is no different. In addition to exhibition matches vs. LSU Eunice and NCAA Division II Delta State, the Bobcats play regular season matches vs. No. 16 Northeast (Nebraska), No. 8 Schoolcraft College (Michigan), No. 3 Dallas-Brookhaven (Texas), Southwestern Illinois, National Park College (Arkansas) and No. 20 Pensacola State.
 
The Bobcats, ranked 10th in the NJCAA Preseason Poll, open the season Aug. 22 vs. Northeast and Aug. 23 vs. Schoolcraft in Westfield, Ind.
 
"We are looking forward to our trip to Indy," Deasley said. "Northeast and Schoolcraft have been nationally ranked teams for several years and they have a strong tradition of winning with some great coaches. Dallas-Brookhaven has won the DIII national tournament on several occasions. They have a very strong program and will give us a great match. National Park will be tough also. They are well-coached and will be very well organized.
 
"Southwestern Illinois is now Division I and we have had several tough contests with them over the last several years. They are another team that is well-coached, hard-working and will not be easily beaten. Pensacola State gave us a heck of a game at their place last season, so we are looking forward to a rematch with them in Ellisville."
 
Tori Brook returns for her eighth year as assistant coach, Shawn Hunter coaches goalkeepers and Jon Marcus Duncan begins his first year with the program.
 
"We wouldn't be where we are today without our entire coaching staff," Deasley said. "Tori has been with me a long time now and we all know she is amazing and works so hard at everything. Her attention to detail is unmatched. Shawn does a fantastic job with the keepers and the girls absolutely love working with him. The individual development of our keepers working with Shawn from one season to the next speaks for itself
 
"Jon Marcus will be with us this year and we are very excited to have him on board. In 25 years at Jackson Prep he was won 30 championships. He comes with a lot of experience and knows how to win and how to get the best out of his athletes. I am truly blessed with the best."
 
The Bobcats will play their regular season home-opener Sept. 6 at noon vs. National Park. 
 
All home regular season matches will air on jcbobcats.com/watch. Tickets are available online for $7 at jcbobcats.com/tickets or $10 cash only at the entrance.