Kelly Carson’s definition includes a phrase she remembers while growing up.


“For me, it’s more about the name on the front of the jersey than the one on the back of it,” she said. “I want to go out there and do the best I can can for my team and my coaches and my school. I’ve always told there are people in the stands cheering for me that I don’t know, and I don’t want to let them down.”

Upbeat and with sports always on her mind, the usually gleeful Carson wasn’t having it Friday.

The threat of spring thunderstorms kept North Little Rock from keeping its 7A-Central date with the Mavericks. Instead of snapping a two-game losing skid, Southside will instead regroup for Bryant and Mount St. Mary.

“We wish we could have played tonight (Friday), because I feel like that would have helped a lot,” Carson said. “These next few games coming up, I think that will help us a lot.”

Southside (11-6, 5-4) will conclude the regular season with four of its final five games at home — all but one of whom they’ve beaten.

The Mavs resume their slate Tuesday against Bryant.

Carson didn’t necessarily stumble into soccer. Basketball wasn’t by accident, either.


Before she was scoring goals or popping 3-pointers, Kelly Carson was hanging out at soccer tournaments, baseball diamonds and steamy basketball gyms.

“When I was little, I was always dragged out to my brother’s games,” she said. “I was really young; since I was 3 I was out there at a game. A lot of times I didn’t want to, but went anyway.”

Five years younger than older brother Wesley, a former University of Central Arkansas soccer star in his own right, Kelly has carved a triumphant career of her own. She’s currently second in scoring with nine goals. 

Just a junior, Carson scored 11 games as a sophomore.

“I started playing soccer when I was 4 and basketball when I was 5,” Carson said. “I just kept on playing. When I got to junior high, I really got really into basketball, and lately I’ve really gotten into soccer.

“It goes back and fourth.”

Scoring kind of goes that way, too.


On some teams, Carson might be considered the go-to scorer.

With the Mavericks, a still relative young group whose roster includes just three seniors, there are multiple scorers. Rachel Smith, who leads the team with 11 goals and who has been a teammate of Carson’s since their travel ball days, is one of several options.

Nancy Mendoza has scored seven goals. Dianna Guerro and Morrea Kleck have five.

“When I was growing up, I played travel soccer with the same girls I’m playing with right now,” Carson said. “When I was 12, I played with Rachel and a few other girls for coach Rusty (Walker).”

As for playing with so many scorers? There is no pressure.

“It makes it more fun,” Carson said. “If you’re going to pass the ball, you can trust them (teammates) with it, and they can make something happen.

“It just makes the game more fun.”
