No. 9 Bulldogs ties top-ranked NWCC

No. 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast hopped on the bus at 8:15 a.m. Friday with a long trip to Senatobia ahead. The Bulldogs made the trip back having narrowly missed a second top-five victory in four days, tying top-ranked Northwest Mississippi 2-2.

"We came in with nothing to lose and everything to gain," Gulf Coast coach Ryan Joiner said. "We asked the girls to go out and play within themselves and give a little extra for their teammates. Ultimately, I'm very happy with the overall effort from all 20 girls who were available tonight. That's a good team we played, and it was always gonna be a fight in the second half."

The Bulldogs (7-2-1, 5-1-1 MACCC) held the defending national champion Rangers (11-0-1, 6-0-1) scoreless for the first time in a half all season and led 2-0 after 45 minutes. 

Millie Jebb-Geer (So., Dronfield, England/Dronfield Henry Fanshawe), probably the best Bulldog on the field Friday despite playing with a new cast on her arm, lofted a free kick from near midfield into the box in the 20^th minute. Linda Mustered (So., Biloxi/St. Patrick) helped cause chaos there, and it went in off a Rangers defender.

"I mean for (Millie) to take that 10-pound cast around, put tackles in, win every header, she doesn't get any credit on the goal because it was an own goal, but she was outstanding," Joiner said. "Our back line was outstanding. I'm very happy with them today."

Ten minutes later, Mustered recycled a cross back into the box. Vanessa Radojevic (Fr., Sciez, France/Lycee De La Versoie) converted with a header for a two-goal lead.

Northwest, which had won 33 straight games, got a goal back in the 62^nd minute, then again six minutes later.

But Gulf Coast didn't fold, and the Bulldogs pushed for a winning goal late. Nakiya Richardson (Fr., Gulfport/Biloxi), who caused trouble on the wing whenever she was in the game, had a good chance in the 87^th minute.

It's one of the most significant weeks in program history.

"Beating the No. 5 team in Jones at home was nice and coming here after a long bus ride today to play a team that hasn't lost in 33 games, I don't say I wanna be holding held into a draw, but we competed," Joiner said. "It tells everybody Gulf Coast is here to stay. We can be competitive with any team in the country, but there's a long season to go, a lotta games to get through. Hopefully, the notice is out there for us."

Gulf Coast will celebrate Sophomore Night on Tuesday when Copiah-Lincoln visits. The game will start at 5 p.m., with ceremonies taking place immediately following the women's game.

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