Bennett wins it in OT
| Final | 1 | 2 | OT | OT2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hinds Community College () | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
|
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College () | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
GULFPORT — The Mississippi Gulf Coast women's soccer team blew a two-goal lead late in regulation but pulled out a victory in the second overtime to beat Hinds 3-2.
Leah Bennett scored on the rebound of an Alyssa Palisi shot following a free-kick to end it in the 105th minute.
"I just knew we needed a goal to win the game because it meant so much to us," she said. "We had a two-goal lead and wound up 2-2, we had worked so hard we felt like we deserved the win."
The match took place at the Gulfport Sportsplex because of wet conditions in Perkinston.
Katie Brown (So., Picayune/Home School) gave Gulf Coast an early lead when she waltzed in off a corner kick to beat former teammate Anna Hoben high. Katherine Dubon (So., Richmond, Va./Manchester) headed in a corner in the 59th minute for a 2-0 lead.
Hinds got goals in the 80th and 82nd minutes to tie things up and force overtime.
"That was a lot more interesting than it needed to be," Gulf Coast coach Jackie Rhodes said. "But that's the way this game works sometimes. You can find yourself tied and need a golden goal, so I'm happy we got it."
Bennett (So., Cape Town, South Africa/Mondeor), who had nearly chipped the game-winner in the first overtime, got this one after yielding to teammate Molly Etchells (So., Manchester, England/Longdendale) on a free kick opportunity.
Etchells' free-kick went into the wall, and the ball wound up at the feet of Palisi (So., Diamondhead/Hancock). Her shot was also blocked.
"I would not have been standing there if I'd taken the free-kick," Bennett said. "It just popped out to me and I had all the free space in the world. I took a deep breath and shot and prayed that it went in."
Gulf Coast (5-3) gets back in action Thursday with a trip to Ellisville to play No. 2 Jones. The rain-postponed contest will start at 7 p.m., and it will close out the first half of MACCC South play.
For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.