No. 20 MGCCC posts big Sophomore Night win

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast women's soccer celebrated Sophomore Night in style Tuesday, beating Hinds 7-0 at Bary Thrash Field.

The No. 20 Bulldogs have gotten on a roll heading down the stretch and put a big number on the board in the final regular-season home game.

"I'm always happy to send the sophomores off with a big win," Gulf Coast coach Ryan Joiner said. "We had a few of them on the scoresheet, and we played good soccer. I'm happy with that, and we're back on the clean sheet train, as well."

The Bulldogs (8-2-1, 5-2-1 MACCC) remain in a third-place tie in the conference standings. Hinds falls to 3-10-2, 1-7.

Gulf Coast got on the board quickly, when Isabella Reynolds (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula) put Kyla Smith (So., Hurley/East Central) through in the fifth minute to open the scoring.

Jennifer Lopez (Fr., Gautier/Gautier) registered a hat trick over a 20-minute span later in the half. Linda Mustered (Fr., Biloxi/St. Patrick) and Kadie Craft (So., Picayune/Picayune) registered assists.

Reynolds scored a penalty two minutes into the second half, and Azlyn Dawson (So., Taylorsville/West Jones) got her first goal of the year with 17 minutes to play. Josey Smith (Fr., Bay St. Louis/Hancock) had an assist. Elissa Viquez (So., St. Rose La./Destrehan) set up Craft for the extra point in the final three minutes.

The celebrated sophomores are on the way to a second straight 10-win season. Last year ended in the region quarterfinals, and the Bulldogs are trying to keep things rolling headed toward the postseason. They could clinch a playoff spot as early as the next game.

"Momentum is everything," Joiner said. "That's three wins on the bounce for us, and we've got three tough road games coming up. Every road game in this league is difficult. It's a big challenge ahead."

Sophomores honored Tuesday included: Dana Brooks (So., Alajuela Costa Rica/Colegio Jesus Ocaña Rojas), Kadie Craft (So., Picayune/Picayune), Azlyn Dawson (So., Taylorsville/West Jones), Laylah Johnson (Fr., Gulfport/Gulfport), Isabella Reynolds (So., Pascagoula/Pascagoula), Neave Ross (So., Whitley Bay/Whitley Bay, England), Kyla Smith (So., Hurley/East Central), and Elissa Viquez (So., St. Rose La./Destrehan).

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.