Bulldogs dominate No. 20 Pensacola State

PHOTO BY ARIANA RIEBEN

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast dominated from start to finish Tuesday at Bary Thrash Field, shutting out No. 20 Pensacola State 4-0.

The Bulldogs were up three at halftime, but they hit the woodwork four times in the first 25 minutes. Laylah Johnson (So., Gulfport/Gulfport) had a goal and an assist.

"That was a good performance," Gulf Coast coach Ryan Joiner said. "We played everybody tonight, which is always nice, but we left some goals out there. I thought the crossing was great, the movement was good. I'm very happy with the team overall. It's a clean sheet, and a win."

Gulf Coast won its second game to start the season and hasn't allowed a goal yet.

Johnson helped open the scoring, getting to the end line down the left side. Her cross found Vanessa Radojevic (Fr., Sciez, France/Lycee De La Versoie) at the top of the 6-yard box. The volley was true in the seventh minute.

Johnson got on the end of a stellar cross from Nakiya Richardson (Fr., Gulfport/Biloxi) in the 40^th minute for a 2-0 lead. That looked like it was going to be the margin at half, but Mia Robins (Fr., Brentwood, England/Shenfield) hooked a ball from the top of the box back across her body and into the far-side netting. The buzzer went off a second later for a third-goal at 44:59.

The final goal came at the end of a long Jennifer Lopez (So., Gautier/Gautier) run. She shaped a goal into the far corner in the 62^nd minute for the final margin.

Kaylee Tardo (Fr., Madison/Germantown) got the start in goal, and split time evenly with Laurel Conley (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) for the shutout. Tardo had the Bulldogs' only save.

"I was happy with everybody that played in the back," Joiner said. "We kept a clean sheet tonight, and that's very important. After the preseason, we haven't conceded a goal."

Pensacola State is 0-2.

The Bulldogs travel to Meridian for a 7 p.m. kickoff Thursday. Their next home match isn't until mid-September.

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