Bulldogs strike late, earn home postseason game

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast had watched a tying penalty kick go into their net and stood 15 minutes from having to take a trip for a playoff game Friday.

Ten minutes later, the Bulldogs were celebrating the game-winning goal, a penalty of their own, on the way to a 2-1 win over Itawamba at Bary Thrash Field. The victory turned that potential long trek into a walk across campus.

"It's been a while since we felt like we won a 50-50 game," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "I'm really proud of the boys. It's been a long season. and it took all of us. We needed that so we could host. We didn't want to have to jump on a bus, but Friday's going to be another tough game."

Gulf Coast finished the regular season 11-5-1 overall and 7-3-1 in the MACCC. They handed Itawamba (10-3-4, 6-1-4) its first league loss to tier fourth, but earned the home game by winning the head-to-head tiebreaker. As a result, the teams will meet at Perk in an NJCAA Gulf South District quarterfinal.

Kickoff will be at 4 p.m., and tickets are available at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets. The game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

Tobias Buch (So., Skovlunde, Denmark/Borupgaard Gymnasium) set up the first goal of the game in the 14^th minute when he crossed a ball from deep in the left corner. Trey Roche (Fr., Pass Christian/Pass Christian) converted, and the Bulldogs would lead for the next 62 minutes.

Omarion Brown (Fr., Linstead, Jamaica/St. Catherine) had a spectacular save late in the first half, and another just before the Bulldogs fouled in the box. Itawamba tied it up, setting off a frenetic final 15 minutes. Brown finished with three saves.

Isaac Whitfield (Fr., Gulfport/Gulfport) earned a PK for Gulf Coast by charging into the box and getting obstructed by an ICC player. Alexander Mink (So., Long Beach/Long Beach) scored his 16^th goal, tied for second in the MACCC.

Friday's return engagement will present another challenge. It will be do-or-die with emotions rubbed raw from Tuesday's feisty encounter.

"It's a chess match, for sure," Handy said. "We'll watch the film to see what adjustments that we can make to make us a little bit better. In the end, it's going to be a tough game. It's going to be won inside the 18s, won on set pieces and in transition, and who can make fewer mistakes." 

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