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CALEDONIA — Two Cavaliers signed to play college soccer at East Mississippi Community College in a ceremony at Caledonia High School on Wednesday. Ally Boykin and Evelyn Crane will remain teammates next year as part of head coach Chris Rash’s Lions team.
“Obviously they’re both a big part of our team,” Caledonia head coach Louis Alexander said of the pair. “We’re going to lose a lot when they move on but we’re proud of what they’ve done, not only this year but previous years, and EMCC is gaining two quality soccer players and two solid young women as well.”
Boykin, a fullback, and Crane, an attacking midfielder, both shared their fondness for their time as Cavaliers. Their development helped them realize the ability and confidence to play at the next level and pursue an opportunity to further their education.
“In the beginning, I didn’t want to play in college, high school soccer was it,” Boykin said. “Halfway through the year I decided I did want to play in college, I didn’t want this to be my last season, and I found out Coach Rash was interested. We set up a tour and it was a pretty easy decision.”
“When the opportunity came I thought this might actually be something I want to do,” Crane added. “Talking with my family we came to the decision, and I’m excited to do it.”
The Cavaliers are currently 11-3 overall and 5-0 in district play thanks in part to a strong senior class. With four games left in the regular season, the group has wrapped up a high seed in the playoffs already, recording eight straight wins and six straight shutouts.
Alexander highlighted Boykin and Crane’s contributions to the team, acknowledging their development into consistent leaders.
“The stability and consistency they bring to not only game day but every training session,” Alexander said. “They come in ready to work, and leave everything else at the door. The intensity and energy they practice with, the other girls feed off of it. It’s a testament to their hard work and our underclassmen get to observe how they approach this every single day. The example has been set.”
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