MGCCC men look to extend 8-game winning streak

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast is riding an eight-game win streak, including a win over Pearl River in the teams' first meeting earlier this season.

That doesn't mean it will be status quo when the archrivals square off Tuesday night at the new MGCCC Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be watched online at http://livestream.com/BulldogLIVE/events/6446217.

"The first Pearl River game didn't go the way we'd like," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "It was probably our toughest game outside of San Jacinto. I think our guys are motivated to kind of avenge that. "

Gulf Coast (9-1, 5-0 MACJC South) won 1-0 on Sept. 2 in Poplarville, the only game in the first half of the division schedule the Bulldogs didn't claim the maximum three-goal difference in the standings.

They are two games up on Jones County and Meridian, and three up against the Wildcats (4-6, 2-3).

"We look at it as a continuation of what we've been doing," Handy said. "We set a goal earlier in the season (to win the South), and we're on track to do that."

He said his squad had two good days of practice after easily beating Jacksonville College 5-1 on Saturday. That same squad had beaten Pearl River the previous night 4-1.

Handy is still tinkering with lineups and formations, trying to maximize the talent.

Emotion figures to play a big role Tuesday. The schools are less than 30 miles apart.

"It's a home game against a rival. How can you not get up for it?," Handy said. "It's at night, under the lights. There are no excuses."

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