Senatobia, Miss. — The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s soccer team is aiming to defend its national title after winning back-to-back NJCAA Division II championships. Under head coach James Beattie, the Rangers posted a 43-1-1 record over the past two seasons and secured the 2025 national championship with a 2-1 victory over Heartland in the final.
Despite losing key players like Emma Jensen and goalkeeper Ann Marie Barton, Northwest returns only one of its top five scorers — sophomore Mary Logan Clark, who scored 11 goals last season. Sophomores Kassidy McMillan and Olivia Miller, the team’s top assist contributors, are also back. Beattie emphasized the importance of adapting to roster changes, noting that the team will be young but talented.
The team welcomes three freshmen — Brooke Davis, Ella King, and Iriko Rakotoarimanana — all multi-time state champions, along with Yazzlyn Alex, a state champion in cross country and track. Many other newcomers bring district honors and playoff experience. Beattie expressed confidence that the depth and talent will help maintain the team’s high standards.
Northwest begins the season ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA DII preseason poll. Their schedule includes non-conference games against ranked opponents, such as Iowa Lakes and Rock Valley at the St. Louis Showcase. Home matches against Dyersburg State and National Park, along with a trip to Southern Union State, will test the team early in the season.
Conference play will be intense, with half of the MACCC teams ranked nationally. The Rangers open MACCC action against Copiah-Lincoln on September 15 and face top-ranked teams like Jones and Holmes in late September. The schedule also includes matchups with Mississippi Gulf Coast, East Central, Pearl River, and others, culminating in a challenging stretch of key games in October.
Beattie highlighted the level of competition within the conference, noting that any team can beat any other on any given day. Despite the tough schedule, he believes the team is prepared to compete at the highest level and continue its pursuit of a third national title.
