ECRU – For years, Anne Crotwell has been putting in work to improve on the soccer field. In 2024-25, that work paid off in historic fashion.
Crotwell finished the season with 81 goals, setting an MHSAA record for the most in a girls soccer season. She also had 16 assists to contribute to 96 of North Pontotoc’s 104 goals this year.
Those stats, and more, have earned her the title of 2024-25 Daily Journal Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“I'm very excited. It's a big accomplishment,” she said. “I kind of worked for this for a while, but I think in the end, I attribute a lot of my success to my team, my coaches and my family.”
The junior has scored 192 goals in her varsity career, which started in the seventh grade. Much of her offensive output has come from the support of her teammates.
“I think they helped me a lot, because they're very encouraging, and even if they're not assisting me, they're cheering me on,” she said. “So I think that's a big part of what's helped me score this many goals.”
Crotwell’s work outside of school has included the Tupelo Futbol Club’s ‘08 team and practicing with her dad, Andy, who coaches football at North Pontotoc. Such work allowed her to put her best foot forward regardless of the opponent.
“I think what's really special is she performed against teams that we were much better than, but she also showed up against teams that were arguably better than us,” Vikings coach Noah LoCastro said. “She was sometimes one of the major reasons that we won tough games.”
One of her biggest moments came against rival South Pontotoc in December with the Vikings trailing by one in the game’s final minutes. As the clock wound down, Crotwell got the ball at midfield, weaved her way through multiple defenders and tied the game seconds before the horn sounded. North Pontotoc went on to win in penalty kicks.
The Vikings went 15-5 this year and advanced to the second round of the Class 4A state tournament. LoCastro feels that Crotwell has helped raise the standard of the team, especially in practice.
“I think she's been a huge part of that. Every day at practice, she's like, ‘Girls, we have to pick it up. This is not what wins games’,” he said. “And she helps raise the level, and that's affected the other girls.”
