Another championship sweep for MGCCC soccer

The MGCCC Lady Bulldog coaches and players pose with their Region 23 hardware.

This fall, winning multiple soccer titles has been routine for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Six days after the men's and women's teams won MACJC championships in the same season for the first time ever, both squads earned Region 23 titles in the same campaign as the Bulldogs shut out archrival Pearl River 2-0 and the Lady Bulldogs edged Meridian 1-0 in overtime.

"We're just riding the wave right now," said Gulf Coast head soccer coach Bary Thrash. "The ball has definitely been bouncing our way lately."

The second history-making event began when the Lady Bulldogs (16-4) got an overtime goal from Jordan Papas to stop Meridian 1-0. It's the first time ever that the Lady Bulldogs have claimed a Region 23 crown since the college began playing soccer in 1998.

The men (15-4-1) got a first half goal from Harrison Russell and a second half netter from Carter Griffith to shut out Pearl River for the second time in less than a week.

"We have tremendous depth on our men's team," Thrash added. "The girls are a group of walking wounded but they keep fighting and winning games. I'm so proud of their effort."

Next weekend Gulf Coast will host the NJCAA South District Championship. The men host #3 Tyler (16-1-2) while the Lady Bulldogs will entertain either Northeast Texas or Tyler.