Bulldogs lose late to No. 11 PRCC

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast didn't get a gimme to open the 2023 women's soccer season Tuesday, and the Bulldogs gave No. 11 Pearl River all the Wildcats wanted.

PRCC scored twice in the final 25 minutes to rally for a 3-2 win in a non-conference game at Bary Thrash Field.

"It was nice to see our team compete in certain areas," new Gulf Coast coach Ryan Joiner said. "Obviously, we can train better in certain areas, but I'm proud of the girls. They were shorthanded. I think we used three or four subs all game, but there's a long way to go. I'm happy with the performance but disappointed with the result."

The Bulldogs scored two goals only four times in 14 games last year, but they were on top 2-1 at halftime after a pair of goals by Kyla Smith (Fr., Hurley/East Central).

PRCC scored in the 10^th minute after a giveaway at the back, but Smith evened it up nine minutes later after Valentina Marin (So., Bogota, Colombia/Colegio Madre Matilde) put her through with an incisive pass. She'd rung the crossbar a few minutes before but put her second chance in for a 1-1 game.

In the 32^nd minute, Smith struck again, this time off a free kick. Isabella Reynolds (Fr., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) hit a shot that was pushed off the crossbar by the Wildcats keeper, but Smith was there to pounce. It took her three whacks, but the Bulldogs went up 2-1.

"We've been working on the attacking phase of play the last three or four days, but we've got to get back to defending as a team," Joiner said. "We gave up some silly goals, but those are individual mistakes. We created a lot of chances, but we told them at halftime that they were going to get pressured."

The Bulldogs held that lead until 25 minutes to play, and PRCC would take the lead for good in the 76^th minute. The Wildcats had won their first two games by a combined score of 26-0, with double-digit goals in both games. It wasn't a pushover Tuesday night.

"We had a lot of freshmen out there," Joiner said. "It was the first game in college against a team that really wanted to come after you and play. It's a rivalry game, so you have to expect emotion and the game to be more physical." 

The teams will meet again Sept. 15 at Poplarville in the MACCC opener for both teams. Gulf Coast plays another league opponent Friday with a trip to Meridian. The non-conference game starts at 7 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.