Bulldogs challenge themselves early

PERKINSTON — The Mississippi Gulf Coast men's soccer team officially kicks off the 2018 season with a pair of games against top-15 teams this weekend in Milledgeville, Ga. The Bulldogs will play No. 8 Daytona State at 1 p.m. Central on Saturday, and against host Georgia Military, the 13th-ranked team, at noon Sunday.

Daytona State and Georgia Military play each other Friday night in the season-opener for both teams.

Previous Meeting

Georgia Military defeated Gulf Coast 3-1 last year, breaking a seven-game Bulldogs win streak. MGCCC hasn't played Daytona State in coach Chris Handy's six previous seasons.

Quotable

"It's about growth as always. We've always scheduled really tough games with top-20 opponents in the first or second weekend. I think we've grown as program because of it. It gives our young group and opportunity to see some of the best teams in the country. If we do well, we have a shot. If we don't, we know what we need to improve." – Coach Chris Handy

Notes

·     Gulf Coast is four wins away from 250 in program history.

·     Handy has 72 victories in his first six seasons and a .694 winning percentage.

Three Ahead

Aug. 31, vs. Pearl River, 7 p.m.

Sept. 4, at Meridian, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7, vs. Jones County, 7 p.m.

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.