HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana women's soccer team has hired former Mississippi College soccer standout Samantha Carson as assistant coach, third-year SLU soccer head coach Chris McBride announced Monday.
 
Carson's hire is pending approval from the University of Louisiana System's Board of Supervisors. Carson, a Bury St. Edmunds, England native, played four years (2015-18) for the Choctaws appearing in 72 matches with 65 starts. The midfielder scored eight goals and had six assists for 22 points in her career.
 
Under the tutelage of 23-year Mississippi College head coach Daryl Longabaugh, Carson helped the Choctaws to a combined 48-17-7 record during her career.
 
"Sam was a special player for us," said Longabaugh. "I hate to see her leave but I'm very excited for her opportunity.  I know she will be a fantastic coach.  Chris (McBride) and SLU are very lucky to have Sam as a part of the program."
 
Carson, 23, brings some youthful energy with experience to an SLU team which has 10 incoming freshman in McBride's third year.
 
"She brings a lot of experience," said McBride. "She was a well-accolated player during her career and just finished playing a few months ago so she understands the new trends in today's soccer game with the new coaching thoughts. The role she played on the field was being a very intelligent player and well-rounded in all aspects of the game. I think she has the right coaching mentality and has a similar playing style to how we play here."
 
Carson replaces former assistant coach Mary Mancin who was hired by the VMI (Virginia Military Institute) women's soccer team as an assistant.
"This all happened pretty quickly," said Carson. "I told my assistant coach, Adam Johnson, that I wanted to get into coaching after I was done playing and he knows Coach McBride. So when the position opened up and I got the call from Chris and gladly accepted."
 
While the relationship between McBride and Johnson helped get the ball rolling, there was more that drew Carson to Southeastern.
 
"We played Southeastern in spring games while I was at Mississippi College and I liked the atmosphere," said Carson. "The relationship between the players, coaches, and the community, I really like those sort of things plus I knew Coach McBride was a great coach and had always heard great things about him."
 
McBride and Carson will begin their pursuit to guide the Lady Lions back to the Southland Conference Tournament when SLU opens the season Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. against Louisiana Tech at Strawberry Stadium.
 
SCORE ONE MORE CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the women's soccer program are encouraged to join the Score One More Club.  Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Score One More Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern soccer program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
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