MGCCC completes perfect South regular season

Mississippi Gulf Coast closed out a perfect MACJC South regular season Tuesday by outscoring Meridian 6-4.

The Bulldogs (13-1) won all 10 division games and are riding a 13-game win streak into the state tournament, which will be played in Perkinston.

"It's not something easily done, and to do it pretty easily, let's be honest, it's just super impressive," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "It's playoff time and none of that matters now. We've got 11 days to get ourselves ready."

Jordan Hall (5-9, 163, Fr., Royton and Crompton/Manchester, England) picked up his sixth hat trick of the season despite being man-marked and added two assists.  He opened the scoring 20 minute in, followed by a goal by James Beattie (5-7, 155, So., Williamwood/Glasgow, Scotland).

Meridian came back to tie the game at 2, but Hall's goal in the 39^th minute gave Gulf Coast a lead it would never relinquish.

Caleb Counselman (5-10, 160, Fr., Pass Christian/Pass Christian) made it 4-2 three minutes into the second half.

After Meridian made it 4-3, Liam Eadsforth (5-11, 145, Fr., The Radclyffe School/Manchester, England) scored in the 55^th minute before Hall's 26^th goal of the year three minutes later.

The Eagles added a late goal for the final margin.

The Bulldogs had allowed only four goals in the previous seven South Division games, but things got sloppy Tuesday.

"It was entertaining, to say the least, to watch four goals go into your net," Handy said sarcastically. "In a game that doesn't matter, that's kind of what happens."

Gulf Coast, which has won all five road games, outscored South opponents 47-11 on the way to the title. The Bulldogs also have a 4-0 win over North Division champion Hinds on their resume.

"Anything short of a state (championship) is a failure based on that regular season," Handy said. "Our guys know that. I know that. We'll approach it as such. They don't mind playing with a little pressure."

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