Ranked No. 2, PSHS soccer squad shoulders sky-high hopes

Jeffrey Collins slammed the proverbial revolving door shut when he was named the coach of the Philip Simmons High School girls' soccer team in 2024. 

He was the third coach of the Iron Horse team in four years and brought much-needed stability to the program. Success soon followed as Collins stressed a solid work ethic, strong fundamentals, and a feeling of family and pride. 

The Iron Horses posted a 13-9-1 record in his first year and followed that up with a 12-7-1 record last spring, reaching the Class AA Lower State championship. 

This year, the girls' squad began the season ranked No. 2 in the state in Class AA in a preseason poll of the state soccer coaches. 

“From the very start, I wanted them to feel like a family and a team," Collins said of his early days as coach. “I wanted them to be proud of being a Philip Simmons girls soccer player as they walked the halls, out in the public, or on their club team. That goes from the seniors all the way to the seventh grader who may want to try out for the JV team. I wanted them to have that ‘want’ to play for each other and for their school. 

“I was lucky when I took over that I had a small but great group of senior leaders and a big talented group of freshmen who were looking to come together as one,” Collins added. “I think now that we have a few years under our belts, they understand what I am looking for as far as work ethic, responsibility, and dedication to their teammates and the program. On the pitch, we have been able to come together to mesh my soccer style with their talents.” 

The Iron Horses' roster included 10 sophomores last season, and the team hit its stride once April rolled around. The team outscored foes 46-2 in a seven-game winning streak as the Iron Horses reached the Lower State championship against Academic Magnet. However, Magnet ended the Iron Horses’ bid for a berth in the championship game with a 4-0 victory. 

Collins was pleased with the progress as the team matured every outing. 

“I was not surprised at all,” Collins said. “We had high expectations and played the toughest non-region schedule so we could be ready for the playoffs. From our freshmen to our seniors, the work ethic and talent were there, and I was proud of what they accomplished.” 

The Iron Horses' annual goals under Collins are to always win the region and to advance further than the year before, which the Iron Horses have done in Collins’ first two seasons. 

“So, our goal is the state championship this year,” Collins said. 

The Iron Horses' biggest challenge to reaching the state championship could be the aforementioned  Academic Magnet School. The Raptors are No. 1 in the Class AA preseason poll. 

“Our senior captains Lucy Bailey and Tatum Hirshman will be huge for us this year,” Collins said. “Tatum, an outside back, has committed to play at Columbia College after graduation, and Lucy was a state champion in track last year while holding down the center of our defense. Added to that, we are excited to see our very talented freshman goalie Emerson Carlin hit the pitch for us.”