No. 7 Bulldogs get revenge on Sophomore Night

PERKINSTON — No. 7 Mississippi Gulf Coast extracted a measure of revenge on Sophomore Night, beating No. 15 Hinds 1-0 at Bary Thrash Field.

The Eagles had beaten the Bulldogs 3-1 in a non-conference matchup early in the season.

"They're a good team," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "They're a team that hasn't lost much, so any time you can beat a time that's had that kind of season is a positive."

The Bulldogs (9-2-3, 5-1-2 MACCC) broke a third-place tie with Hinds (10-2-2, 4-2-2). They are three points behind second-place Jones, and teams close out the regular season in Ellisville. Pearl River remains unbeaten atop the standings.

Gulf Coast put pressure on the Eagles early in the match, and Mills Sheridan (So., Flowood/Northwest Rankin) helped deliver the first goal. He'd just missed a shot off the scramble after a corner moments before when he found himself with the ball on the right wing. He got deep and crossed perfectly to Victor Moerck (So., Vaerlose, Denmark/Lyngby Handelsgymnasium), whose header in the 33^rd minute turned out to be the night's only score.

"Mills grew up with a lot of those guys," Handy said. "It was important to him. The game before left a bad taste in our mouths, so to go out and get the win in conference, where it matters the most, is huge."

David Ruiz Ospina (So., Manizales, Colombia/Gimnasio del Pacifico) stopped five shots for his fourth shutout of the season.

The night celebrated 15 sophomores who were part of their last home regular-season game. The class won the MACCC championship last year. It includes Donovan Allen (So., Byram/Terry), Jayden Armstrong (So., Southaven/DeSoto Central), Connor Goodman (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs), Luke Hopkins (So., Clinton/Clinton), Nygel Jobe (So., Brandon/Brandon), Alan Loya (So., Horn Lake/Horn Lake), Mills Sheridan (So., Flowood/Northwest Rankin), Victor Moerck (So., Vaerlose, Denmark/Lyngby Handelsgymnasium), Kai Moody (So., Biloxi/D'Iberville), David Ruiz Ospina (So., Manizales, Colombia/Gimnasio del Pacifico), Bryon Shepard (So., Gulfport/St. Patrick), Kade Smith (So., London, England/Whitmore), Brant Tarter (So., Carriere/Pearl River Central), Hayden Thomas (So., Clinton/Clinton), and Mark Wilson (So., Ridgeland/St. Andrews).

"This group, you can't really ask for more," Handy said. "This win keeps their hopes alive for conference, nationals and all that. It was very important game, and it was another ranked win."

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