No. 6 Men’s Soccer makes move to DII

PERKINSTON — The Mississippi Gulf Coast men's soccer season moving to the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic isn't the only significant organizational change the Bulldogs are getting ready for with the 2020-21 season.

They'll be playing in the newly created NJCAA Division II, which opens new doors.

"It gives us a chance to chance to get to the national tournament without getting lucky," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "It puts us on a more even playing field with the teams we'll be playing against. It gives the boys an opportunity to get recognition, which is important because we want all of them playing at the four-year level. If we can get more guys at the top of the scoring charts, get more guys on the All-American rankings, get our team in the rankings, all of it means our guys get seen. And if our guys get seen, that means more scholarships." 

The D-II national championship tournament will be played in Wichita, Kan., in June and an MACCC championship would put the Bulldogs in the field.

The NJCAA only played Division I and Division III soccer until this year, and the new classification aligns better with the MACCC structure. The conference comprises the whole of Region 23, which means there's one automatic berth in addition to four national at-large bids.

The Bulldogs have also been launched up the NJCAA rankings. They are sixth in the latest poll, although if you ask Handy, he'll tell you what that means.

"Nothing yet," he said. "We'll see in the end. It's less what this team has done and more about what our teams in the past have done."

This team, however, has the chance to challenge for that state title.

"It's a good combination of experience and incoming talent," Handy said. "The flip to spring has really helped those freshmen catch up, and they're really pushing those sophomores. They don't have a lot of limitations, so we're excited, to say the least."

Gulf Coast brings back starting keeper Isaiah Gore (So., Laurel/Laurel), who went 12-6-1 with a 1.15 GAA last year. He brings leadership, and his teammates know exactly what to expect from him. Handy said when players trust in the keeper that's half the battle, and they also have a strong backup in Zach Seymour (So., Gulfport/St. Patrick).

In front of Gore, the Bulldogs will deploy Chad Hudson (So., Gulfport/St. Patrick), Chad McKnight (So., Byram/Terry) and Deon Travis (So., Madison/Madison Central). McKnight was the only one who missed even a single game last year. 

"They have experience, and you just trust them," Handy said. "We haven't really done that much work back there because we know what we're getting."

Travis is transitioning from midfield, which will help him get to the next level. Adam Holland (Fr., Moss Point/Resurrection), Noah Shockley (Fr., Long Beach/Long Beach) and Ashton Taylor (Fr., Olive Branch/Center Hill) will provide depth.

Christian Inchima (So., Brampton, Ontario/St. Edmond Campion) and James Redmond (So., Bremen, Germany/Oberschule Roter Sand) are returning international midfielders. They tied for the team lead last year with 11 goals and also had five assists each. They're joined by Jashil Vithal (Fr., Johannesburg, South Africa/Glenvista High School) and Abdul Omar (Fr., Madison/Germantown). 

"There's a lot of experience in that group, and they're super talented across the board," Handy said. "It's going to be hard to defend because they don't have a lot oof limitations."

Ashton and Brandon Marquez (So., Petal/Petal) will come off the bench in midfield.

Fabien Barker (Fr., Madison/Madison Central) has already made a name for himself with a hat trick in his first college game. He's joined by Anderson Micolta (Fr., Toronto, Ontario/James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School), who gives the Bulldogs a big, strong forward who can hold the ball up. 

Redmond, Inchima and newcomer Alwayne Whittaker (Fr., Biloxi/Biloxi) will see action up top, too.

The MACCC South figures to be dog-eat-dog again. Jones is ranked eighth in the NJCAA poll, with Pearl River receiving votes. 

That creates a challenging path to a title.

"It's always a goal, the state championship and beyond," Handy said. "We were a crossbar away from winning one last year, and all the major contributors except two are back from that team, which gives us hope. The freshmen have come in, and the job they've done lets me know we'll be there in the end and we'll be there in the future."

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