It’s been a rough start to the year for Head Coach Ed Williams and the Lady Maroon Tide soccer team.

The beginning of the season always includes some growing pains as new players get used to the speed of play and adapt to their roles on the team.

Tough competition has also affected the Maroon Tide as the players faced talented teams to start the season, including a Bay team that’s currently undefeated.

Getting the first win of the season serves as a way to calm the nerves of the players and Picayune was able to do just that when they faced Purvis on Nov. 12.

Picayune won the game 1-0 thanks to a goal from junior Kaitlyn Williams.

Picayune has found scoring from all areas of the field with the team’s three goals so far this season coming from three different players.

Williams, senior Jesslyn Reed and freshman Kadie Craft have all found the back of the net for the Maroon Tide.

The team’s defense has been solid all season and Picayune hasn’t been scored on more than twice in a single game.

However, Coach Williams said his team needs to be more dangerous when in the opponent’s half of the field.

“If we can get attacking third going we’ll be playing some good soccer,” Williams said.

In five games the Lady Maroon Tide only scored three times, so Williams has been having his players work on their finishing.

Even with the four consecutive losses, Williams said his players have done a good job of holding their heads high while on the field.

Another early season hiccup for the squad has been adjusting to a new formation.

Williams has had his squad come out in a 4-2-3-1.

This set up has four defenders along the back, two holding midfielders, an attacking midfielder alongside two wingers and a lone forward up top.

Williams said his team has had trouble understanding the spacing of the formation, while also figuring out how to transition from defense to offense in the new system.

“We haven’t gotten the nuances of shifting throughout the game. We really need to transition from defense to offense quickly,” Williams said.

Coming off the high of their first win, Picayune’s next challenge for the players was the game against Forrest County Agricultural High School on Tuesday.

The Aggies are 1-4 this season, but should still provide a good challenge for the team.  It’ll be a home game for Picayune with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m.