Lady Bulldogs get 2-2 tie in regular-season opener

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast expected more offense from the women's soccer team, and there were certainly more chances in the Lady Bulldogs' regular-season opener Friday night.

But Gulf Coast didn't get enough shots on target and settled for a 2-2 tie against Itawamba after regulation and two 10-minute overtimes.

"We got better tonight," Gulf Coast coach Jackie Rhodes said. "It went longer than we expected. We got fitter tonight, which is a positive."

Erin Longsden (5-5, Fr., Droylsden Academy/Manchester, England) had a goal and an assist for the Lady Bulldogs, and clanged one off the crossbar in the final minutes of regular time that nearly meant victory in the first game at the new MGCCC Soccer Complex.

"It was a real tough game, but it went well," she said. "We put a lot of pressure on them, but it didn't pay off."

Longsden pounced on a poor Itawamba goal kick in the 31^st minute, heading it forward into the path of Jess Shepherd (5-6, Fr., Parrswood/Manchester, England). Shepherd made it 1-0 past a diving Lady Indians goalkeeper.

The lead evaporated with just 13 seconds left in the half, though, when a bouncing ball at the top of the penalty box came into the path of Brooke Younger, who looped a shot over the keeper into goal.

Longsden scored in the 48^th minute to make it 2-1, but an ICC free kick 12 minutes later ended the scoring.

"I said we were going to be a more attacking team this year, but we just couldn't find the net," Rhodes said. "We got a couple in, but we'll learn from it and have more target practice."

The Lady Bulldogs return to action Sept. 2 when they open MACJC South Division play at archrival Pearl River. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. in Poplarville.

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