RIDGELAND – With its playoff hopes on the line, the Northwest men's soccer team earned a gritty 2-1 victory on the road at Holmes on Tuesday afternoon.

Northwest improved to 5-6-1 on the season and 3-3-1 in the north division with the win. More importantly, the win also snapped a five-match losing streak which included three north division losses.

Michael Ledbetter helped the Rangers make a statement early, scoring his eighth goal of the season just over five minutes into the first period. Jonathan Felix and David Raymundo provided the double assist as Northwest took an early 1-0 lead.

Northwest held the slim lead for the remainder of the first half and well into the second half until Holmes' Cristian Macias played a perfect ball into the box where KeJaron Porter one-touched it past Brandon Carrillo in the 70th minute to tie the match at 1-1.

With the second half ticking away, Julian Raney found the game-winner for the Rangers by netting his first career goal off a Bryant Young assist in the 76th minute, giving Northwest the much-needed 2-1 victory.

Holmes outshot Northwest 17-16 and finished with a 10-8 on-goal advantage.

Carrillo led Northwest with nine saves while Markus Frederick tallied six saves for Holmes.

Northwest will close out the regular season schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against Itawamba with a 3 p.m. kick.