Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It was a smooth transition for Kelly Carlisle.

Carlisle was a scoring machine during her time as a Callaway High soccer player, but she knew there would be an adjustment period as she made the move to Point University.

That adjustment, it turns out, wasn’t a big deal for Carlisle, who led Point in goals scored during her freshman season.

Carlisle had another successful season as a sophomore, and she’s busy preparing for her junior season that is scheduled to begin in August.

Reflecting back on her debut season at Point, Carlisle believes being around her new teammates during preseason practice helped prepare her for the college game.

“Practices got me ready for it, playing with the girls that had been there, playing with the upper-classmen,” Carlisle said. “That most definitely got me ready, and my coach really helped get me ready, too. The first game we had, I was definitely nervous, and I knew it was going to be different, but honestly practices really got me ready for it.”

Carlisle, in fact, had the go-ahead goal in that debut game, a 2-0 victory over Faulkner University.

Carlisle finished the season with a team-leading seven goals in 17 games, and three of those goals proved to be game-winners.

Carlisle had three goals in 19 games as a sophomore, but she continued to be a critical part of the offensive attack.

“My freshman year, I was lucky enough to be the leading scorer, so that was nice,” Carlisle said. “This past year I didn’t score as much, but I’d say that I improved on my passing, and being more in shape and getting up and down the field, and being in the

right spot at the right time.”

Carlisle enjoyed an exceptional high-school career, and she helped lead Callaway to state-tournament victories in 2017 and 2018.

Carlisle was also a softball standout at Callaway.

In February of 2019 Carlisle signed her letter of intent, and she joined the Point University family that fall.

“The first day I went, my freshman year, I could tell it was going to be a family thing,” Carlisle said. “I knew we were going to be really close. We hang out every day, on the field, and off the field. We have dinner with each other. We’ve made really close friendships.”

Since Point University is in Troup County, Carlisle knows she’ll usually have a solid support section at her home games.

“It’s been great being able to have my family come,” Carlisle said. “They’re my biggest  supporters, and having them really helps my nerves, too. My mom (Kristy Reynolds), she’s my number one supporter. She tries to be at every home game, and every away game.”

Looking ahead to the 2020 season, Carlisle is excited about the team’s prospects.

The returning players will be joined by some talented newcomers, including current Callaway senior Ashley Bowden.

“We have a lot of new recruits coming in, and I think it’s going to be really good,” Carlisle said. “We’ve done really good recruiting this year, and I just think that with our schedule and we have a lot more home games, and home advantage definitely helps. I think the girls that are returners are definitely hungry. I think that’s going to help push us in the right direction.”