Neither Olivia Cassell nor Addie Siders are unfamiliar names in Hattiesburg’s soccer community.
Both of their skills have been respected for the last several years, with the duo leading each of their respective schools into the postseason.
Cassell led Oak Grove to the second round of the Class 7A playoffs and racked up 32 goals and five assists. Siders, who scored 16 goals and recorded a school-record of 30 assists, helped Sumrall reach the third round of the Class 4A playoffs and win a district title.
For their efforts, Cassell and Siders have been named the Pine Belt Sports Area Girls Soccer Co-Players of the Year for the 2024-25 season.
It’s an honor both had previously won, with Cassell taking home the honor as a sophomore for the 2022-23 season and Siders as an eighth grader during the 2021-21 season.
Yet what makes their story unique is that the duo has been lifelong friends and has played club soccer together at the Hattiesburg Futbol Club since they were the age of five.
“(Addie) is my favorite person to play with, and we know each so well,” said Cassell of Siders. “She knows what she is going before (the ball) gets to her. Her soccer knowledge is through the room. I think she’s a perfect center-back. She can play midfield. She can play forward.
“Her biggest strength is staying calm. If she’s taking somebody on in a dribble, then she’s going to beat them. It’s not a spastic thing. She beats them with ease, and her passes are perfect.”
At HFC, the two played together in the rec program and select program, as well as in the Elite Clubs National League in Birmingham.
“We were super close growing up,” Sider said. “I love Olivia. She is an incredible player, and she’s an awesome person.
“She’s one of the top players in the state. She has the leg strength from the left and right. She can shoot from all angles and all parts of the field. She’s always been speedy. The older she has gotten, the stronger she has gotten. She’s a player you definitely want on your team, and you don’t want to have to play against.”
The two have joked for years about potentially transferring to join the other, but the hypothetical was always fun to think about.
“It was one big joke across the whole season,” Cassell said. “But I actually have thought it about before, and if we had Addie and Rylee (Kirkland) at Oak Grove, I think it would have been an unstoppable team.”
SIDERS TAKES ON DIFFERENT ROLE
During practice for the Hattiesburg Futbol Club, Siders’ longtime Sumrall teammate and last year’s POY winner Rylee Kirkland tore her ACL.
Kirkland’s injury proved to be a reminder for Siders, who had felt the pressure of trying to repeat as a state championship, to simply enjoy the moment.
“It hit a little harder for me,” Siders said. “It took a couple of days just to grasp and kind of realize what the new reality was because we had talked about our senior year for so long.
“It really made me think that it can be taken from you at any moment. Nothing is guaranteed, and nothing is promised. I went into every day to give it my all. Give my best to the program and team. It didn’t end up how we wanted it to end up, but I just tried to leave the best mark and best influence onto the young girls and a good role model.”
Cassell was also at the same practice where Kirkland went down and immediately knew the injury was bad and what it meant for her friend’s upcoming season.
“She tore it unmarked,” Cassell said. “She wasn’t being defended at all. As soon as she went down, I got scared, and my eyes were watering because she’s also one of my best friends. Her not getting to play school soccer was really devastating.”
On the field, the loss of Kirkland forced Siders to rely on the younger players on her team and had to help develop them quickly.
“She took on a big leadership role and primarily played in the midfield for us,” Sumrall coach Todd Siders said. “Really, 30 assists in one year is quite remarkable. She sees the field well and could pick out the open person
“I think everybody had high expectations for her. I’m more proud of the character she has and the kid that she is. She going to do great things in life.”
CASSELL MAINTAINS TRADITION
As for Cassell, this season was the first year without Oak Grove’s longtime coach Clay Smith.
Cassell’s focus this season was devoted to upholding the winning traditions at Oak Grove.
“I remember the girls being really nervous, but we all came together,” Cassell said. “(Coach Thomas) came through, and it ended up being a really good (year).”
First-year head coach Bryan Thomas, who had been an assistant on the staff for the last five years, described Cassell as a literal coach on the field.
“From the start of the season even before the season started in our preseason,” Thomas said. “She was leading the girls and taking them out there to get them started without needing any guidance from the coaches. She led every drill.
“She was one that the girls looked up to when things weren’t going right. She would basically lead the field…She was the voice out there in the middle of the field to help direct play and guide girls to do what we needed them to do.”
Cassell put together her second straight season with over 30 goals, but in no way does she take the credit.
“It had a lot to do with my team,” Cassell said. “I wouldn’t have scored without them, and they just made it all really possible.
“I’m super glad that I was able to do for my team.”
MOVING FORWARD
Siders will be continuing her playing career at Southern Miss next year.
“We have grown up playing the game together,” Cassell said. “It’s awesome that we won this together in our last year.
“Every time I’m with Addie it’s a good day.”
Despite having multiple college offers, Cassell has decided to call it a career and will continue her education at Ole Miss.
“She will for sure be one of the best players and top players that I have played against and with,” Sider said. “We both won this prior. I think it’s just really special and a sweet way to end our high school career together.”
PREVIOUS POY WINNERS:
2023-24: Rylee Kirkland, Sumrall
2022-23: Olivia Cassell, Oak Grove
2021-22: Taylor Stewart, Oak Grove
2020-21: Addie Siders, Sumrall
2019-20: Caragan Childs, Sumrall
2018-19: Caragan Childs, Sumrall
2017-18: Lonnie Mulligan, Oak Grove
2016-17: Mary Margaret Parker, Sacred Heart
2015-16: Taytum Terrell, Hattiesburg
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