No. 12 MGCCC kicks back off Friday morning

PERKINSTON — Thanks to winning its second MACCC title in three seasons, No. 12 Mississippi Gulf Coast has had some extra time off before starting the postseason.

While six other teams kicked each other around last week, the Bulldogs were getting valuable rest and recovery. They're back on the field Friday morning in the opening semifinal of the NJCAA Gulf South District Tournament.

It'll be a whole different game in Ellisville when they kick off against fourth-seeded Itawamba.

"The desperation increases," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "Every team is fighting a little harder because there's nothing left to play for if you lose. In a past game, you may be able to outwork a team. That kind of goes away because everybody is fighting for everything in a playoff game."

The winner of that opening game, which will be streamed at https://jcbobcats.com/watch, will have to wait around until the final match to find out the championship game opponent. No. 2 Jones plays No. 3 Pearl River in a match scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

All-day passes are available at https://jcbobcats.com/tickets and they're cheaper purchased online than at the gate. They cost $10 online and $15 at the gate. All in-person purchases are cash only.

The championship is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Gulf Coast (12-2-2) played Itawamba (10-5-3) on Oct. 17, with the Bulldogs claiming a narrow 1-0 win. Mills Sheridan (Fr., Brandon/Northwest Rankin) scored the only goal in the 39^th minute, and David Ruiz Ospina (Fr., Manizales, Colombia/Gimnasio del Pacifico) got the shutout.

ICC hit a post, and the Bulldogs offense banged a couple off the frame, too.

Itawamba comes in riding a three-game win streak, and the Indians are 4-1-2 in their last seven.

"They're a good soccer team," Handy said. "We have to make sure we're disciplined. We have to make sure we always have cover and really not rush. No matter whether we're in possession or out, they are good enough to score. We have to make sure we're switched on defensively even when we're in possession so we can deny their counters."

NJCAA Men's Soccer Gulf South District Tournament

Quarterfinals

Hosted by higher-seeded teams

Friday, Oct. 27

• No. 2 Jones 4, No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln 1

Saturday, Oct. 28

• No. 4 Itawamba 1, No. 5 East Central 0 (2OT)
• No. 3 Pearl River 2, No. 6 Southwest Mississippi 1 (OT)

Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 3

Ellisville

• No. 1 Gulf Coast vs. No. 4 Itawamba, 11 a.m.
• No. 3 Pearl River vs. No. 2 Jones, 7:30 p.m.

Finals

Sunday, Nov. 5

Ellisville

• Championship, 7:30 p.m.

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.