MGCCC clinches South Division title

No. 15 Mississippi Gulf Coast clinched the South Division title Tuesday night with a 4-1 win at Copiah-Lincoln, and the MACJC Soccer Tournament will be in Perkinston later this month.

A blizzard of three goals in three minutes, including James Beattie's second of the night, gave the Bulldogs the victory. Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy wasn't totally happy with the way his team played but realized all win gained.

"We continued our streak of scoring four goals," he said. "We clinched South. We get to host the state tournament. In the end, we'll take all that."

Gulf Coast has scored four or more goals in 10 straight games in running its win streak to 11.

Beattie (5-7, 155, So., Williamwood/Glasgow, Scotland) had a penalty kick in the first half then had the second goal in the second-half flurry.

Jordan Hall (5-9, 163, Fr., Royton and Crompton/Manchester, England) scored another penalty in the 53^rd minute, followed by Beattie's a minute later. Hall has 23 goals this season and Beattie has eight.

Aarin Johnson (6-2, 290, Fr., The Cottesloe School/London) got his third goal another minute later for a 4-0 lead.

Co-Lin scored on a penalty kick of its own in the 88^th minute for the final margin.

"Teams have played super defensive against them two games in a row," Handy said. "They just needed to be a little more patient than they were at the start of that game. I don't think they realize that some of the respect for where they are and what they've done, they're going to get everybody's best shot."

Gulf Coast returns to action Saturday when Southwest visits the new MGCCC Soccer Complex.

"Nothing's going to be really easy for them the rest of the way because every team is going to fight to make a name for themselves and get a result that nobody else has," Handy said. "We're going to have to raise our game."

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.