September 7, 2022
The newly ranked No. 13 ECCC Lady Warrior soccer team flexed their muscles on Wednesday night, Sept. 7, as the team downed the Mississippi Gulf Coast Lady Bulldogs, 2-1. The win kept the Lady Warriors record perfect as the team moved to 3-0, while the Lady Bulldogs fell to 1-2.
"Again we are happy with a win, but we have to do better in certain aspects of defending, especially after creating so many chances early on," said ECCC head coach Ryan Joiner. "We continue to improve each game and show desire to fight for one another with our third come-from-behind win, but we know once conference games start, those performances must be better, too."
The Lady Bulldogs were the first team on the board as MGCCC's Skyler Vance scored with less than five minutes remaining in the opening half. The goal, came off one of very few Gulf Coast shots as the Lady Warriors kept possession for the majority of the opening frame.
Minutes later, ECCC's Trinity Barden (Kent, United Kingdom) took advantage of a great pass from Karlie Denius (Picayune). The equalizer found the back of the net with just 12 seconds remaining in the first period.
The Lady Warriors' offensive pressure and midfield control were on display again in the second half as ECCC continued to control the majority of possessions. That pressure eventually paid off with a Kara Wager (Lucedale) goal from a Jade Brown (Canberra, Australia) assist. The goal, which came in the 55th minute, put the Lady Warriors in front, 2-1. A score that would hold to the end of the match as ECCC buckled down on the defensive end of the pitch.
ECCC finished the night with 22 shots, and a whopping 50 percent of them on goal. The Lady Bulldogs posted five shots on the night with one on goal. Ashton Rupert (Long Beach) went the distance in goal for the Lady Warriors in the win.
The Lady Warriors will be back in action on Monday, Sept. 12, as the team travels to the Folmer Soccer Complex in Montgomery, Ala. to face South Georgia State College. The match is slated for a 2 p.m. kick off.
