No one told Kristen Barnhill coaching girls’ soccer at Bryan County was going to be easy. But after a school record three straight playoff appearances the fifth-year coach thought things would be going a little smoother.

That is not the case, however, as Barnhill, who built the Southeast Bulloch program into one of the best in the area, finds herself struggling to keep the Redskins relevant in the Region 3A-DII race.

“This reminds me of year one,” Barnhill said. “When we come out to practice now, we sometimes have to leave early because we’ve only got seven or eight players.

“We do skill work. The kids are great and they work hard. They want to learn and get better.”

Despite the recent success---two years ago the Redskins hosted and won their first ever home playoff game---it has not generated the interest and numbers Barnhill was hoping for.

The current roster has 15 players after losing last year’s region Defender of the Year Camryn Parker for the season due to a knee injury. Two of those players, senior Liz Harvey and freshman Ra’myah Johnson, only joined the team this week due to playing basketball, and freshman Emma Into was a late addition.

The Redskins are 0-3 after losing at Screven County, 10-0, last Friday in their region opener. In their previous game, a 10-0 loss at Woodville-Tompkins they had to finish the game with 10 players after Parker was injured.

Needless to say, the addition of Harvey, a three-time All-Region pick and last year's Goalkeeper of the Year, Johnson and Into, who also plays softball, will help from a numbers standpoint.

Barnhill, however, is not throwing a pity party for herself or her team.

Playing in a region stacked with teams like Screven County, Metter and Claxton who annually field strong teams Barnhill is confident her young, inexperienced team will find its bearings and snare at least a fourth-place finish which would get it into the state playoffs.

“Losing Camryn is a huge loss,” Barnhill said. “At Woodville we had only 11 players available because of injury, illness or obligations to other sports and then she got hurt.

“We have been kind of scrounging here and there for players. That’s not unusual at a small school.”

Harvey, who along with Parker has signed to play softball with Georgia Southern Eastern, will be a big addition. She is not only an outstanding athlete but is experienced and a leader.

The Redskins lost heavily to graduation from a year ago as seven seniors departed. Four other players, including all-region and leading scorer Kolbie English, chose to forgo their senior year.

Harvey, who has shown she can be a prolific scorer, will not be in the net this year. Freshman Abigail Robider will be in goal with Harvey moving to forward to hopefully generate some offense.

“Having Liz will help us for sure,” Barnhill said. “Abigail, who also plays softball, is a very smart, solid kid who works hard.”

Another experienced senior leader is Adie Longino, a four-year starter, who is solid at mid center where she pairs with freshman McKinleigh Futch who replaces Parker.  

“Haven Dixon and Peyton Scott have been with me for a while and they’ll do the heavy lifting,” Barnhill said. “Although our region is stacked once we get some of these kids up to speed, I’m optimistic we can compete for a playoff spot.  

The roster: Jada Haggray, senior; Haven Dixon, senior; Liz Harvey, senior; Camryn Parker, senior; Adie Longino, senior;  Asia Bentley, senior; Joselyn Martin, senior; Gwen Barnett, junior; Noella Redmond, sophomore, Si’niyah Frazier, sophomore; Peyton Scott, sophomore; Ra’myah Johnson, freshman; Emma Into, freshman; McKinleigh Futch, freshman; Heidi Long, freshman, Abigail Robider, freshman.  

The schedule:

Feb. 17: Windsor Forest, L 3-2; 19:  at Woodsville-Tompkins, L 0-10; 27:  at Screven County*, L 0-10.

March 3: Portal*; 5:  at Montgomery County; 6:  at Metter*; 10: McIntosh County Academy*; 13:  at Claxton*; 19:  Screven County*; 24:  at Portal*; 27:  Metter*; 31:  at Southeast Bulloch.

April 2: at Vidalia; 13:  Beach, Senior Day; 14:  at McIntosh County Academy*; 16:  at Treutlen County.

*--Region game. All home games start at 5 p.m.