NATCHEZ — Shelby Guice told Adams County Christian soccer coach Jimmy Allgood she’d come to ACCS to help him build his soccer program.

That was right before she helped Natchez High rout ACCS during Guice’s sophomore year in high school.

“We were a brand new program that year, and I was refereeing our first game ever against Natchez High,” Allgood said.

“She played for Natchez at the time, and as soon as I put the ball down, she said she would come next year. Then she proceeded to kick our butt.”

Guice said she remembers that game too.

“I think I scored five goals in that game,” she said.

After her 10th-grade year, Guice fulfilled her promise to Allgood to come over to ACCS and help him develop the Lady Rebels soccer team. Guice, who’s now a senior, was recently offered a scholarship to continue her soccer career at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson.

“I haven’t signed yet,” Guice said. “I’m busy with basketball right now, so they told me I could when things settle down, but I keep in touch with their coach, Brian Moore, regularly.”

Allgood said Guice is an aggressive player on offense and defense, and has been a pleasure to coach.

“It’s been very fun to have someone of her talent help start out the program,” Allgood said. “At the collegiate level, she will be very successful at soccer. She’s been a leader for the girls here.”

But soccer and basketball aren’t the only thing at which Guice excels. She also plays softball for ACCS, and when she’s not doing that, she’s standing on the sideline cheering.

“I wish I could have played football,” she said. “I would have liked to play running back.”

Allgood isn’t the only coach who’s coached Guice that has a lot of good things to say about her. ACCS softball head coach Forrest Foster said what makes Guice special is her heart.

“The kid has so much heart to go through everything she goes through to play four sports,” Foster said. “You never hear a complaint from her about being tired. She’s always ready to go, and that’s the kind of kid you look for.”

And softball teammate Mary Sanders said she does a great job helping her out on the field.

“Every time I got down, she was one of the main ones to say that it was OK, and that we’re all in it together,” Sanders said. “She’s very much a motivator.”

Guice said she enjoys playing on the field and cheering on the sidelines, but if she had to pick one, she’d rather be on the field.

“It’s tough to balance it all,” Guice said. “I just take it one day at a time I guess. It gets really stressful, but I don’t get behind in my schoolwork, so that’s not a problem.”

Allgood said he hopes some of his younger players have taken note in how Guice plays.

“Hopefully they’ll take the short years they have left and get to her skill level by the time they’re 12th graders,” Allgood said. “She’s been playing since second grade, and for many girls for our team, July 12 was their first time to ever play in a game.”