MGCCC downs Jacksonville State

PERKINSTON – There were heroes aplenty for Mississippi Gulf Coast as it defeated an out-of-state team Friday.

The Bulldogs tacked on a game to their win streak, making it seven straight, by downing Jacksonville State 5-3. Juan Salazar had two goals for Gulf Coast, with Gio Freitas and Matt Ross scoring the game's final goals to secure the victory.

"It was another game they battled at," Bulldogs coach Chris Handy said. "It seems like kind of a pattern. Nothing's been easy lately, but they've always met every test.

"That's obviously exciting heading toward the playoffs where games are like that. So far, we've gritted out every one we've faced."

Gulf Coast (9-2) got a big game from defender Logan Walton who hadn't been able to train since Monday because of illness.

"For him to step up and play 90 is super impressive," Handy said. "The team owes him a lot for all the work he put in tonight."

Freitas scored off a corner to give Gulf Coast its final lead, and Ross scored with 2 seconds left in the contest off an assist from Lewis Tillman.

Tillman also had a goal for Gulf Coast, which turns around and plays another dangerous out-of-state team Saturday. East Florida State (6-0-2) is second in the latest NJCA rankings. The Titans downed Pearl River 4-0 Friday.

"It's the toughest one we've faced, but you have to go through those to know what you're about," Handy said. "It's only going to help us no matter what happens."