RIDGELAND – Fans in attendance at Wednesday night's Region 23 women's soccer semifinal between #3 Northwest Mississippi Community College (16-1-1, 9-1-1) and #5 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (12-3-1, 9-1-1) were treated to an all-time classic as the Rangers and Bulldogs went down to the wire with NWCC just edging out a 2-1 win on an 84^th minute goal from Caroline Perkins, punching their ticket to the championship match scheduled for Friday night at 7:00 pm.

"Both games have been super tight," Head Coach James Beattie said of the season series with MGCCC that has been so competitive. "They are well coached with really good players. They've caused us a lot of problems and both score lines have shown that."

There wasn't much offense in the opening 15 minutes as the two teams felt each other out, only managing four shots between the two. It took a defensive play to really get the offense sparked in the match when a pair of Ranger defenders collided with a Bulldog in the 18-yard box which triggered the referee to signal for a penalty kick to MGCCC.

Laylah Johnson made it count as she gave Gulf Coast the opening goal in the 17^th minute.

It wouldn't take long for the Rangers to answer back though. Just three and a half minutes later, Emma Jensen did Emma Jensen things, drawing the attention of the defense on the end line while Olivia Miller found space at the top of the six-yard box, followed by Jensen finding her for an equalizing goal that tied the game in the 21^st minute.

Beattie said getting back into the game so quick was vital in a championship atmosphere.

"If it would have sat one-zero for a while, they would have gotten deeper and deeper and deeper and it would have been harder for us to break, so the key was just getting that next goal and we got it quick."

Both teams again settled into a back-and-forth struggle in the middle of the field and the match went to the half tied at 1-1.

During the break, the conversation was one that focused on continuing to bring a strong effort to the final 45 minutes.

"Coach was proud of us, but he knew it wasn't going to be easy," freshman forward Caroline Perkins said. "We needed that extra push at halftime and obviously it worked. We all wanted it so bad, and it was all effort at the end. We just had to push each other."

Northwest came out much more aggressive in the second half, matching their shot output in the first half in just 10 minutes of play in the second half, testing the skills of the Bulldog's goalie and the strength of the woodwork, finding both posts and the crossbar on three consecutive shots but just coming shy of finding the go-ahead goal.

"For us we are obviously an attack-based team, so any time the game stretches on I feel as if we are going to create more chances and we did that. We hit the bar and the post a few times, but we got the one that mattered," Beatty said.

That seemed to be the story of the half, with some runs back by MGCCC which tested Ann Marie Barton on the way to her making three saves in the second half, and more pressure from the Rangers being held at bay by the Bulldogs.

In the 84^th minute, brilliance struck again.

Perkins, who had been denied several runs in the second half that had shown promise, was able to find a lane and Jensen placed a near perfect ball in front of the Hernando freshman who outraced a pair of Bulldogs and the goalie to the ball and toed a shot just past the defense to put Northwest in front 2-1.

"We were all working really hard and I was working for everyone else," Perkins said. "My team put me on their shoulders, it definitely wasn't me, and it was a great ball from Jensen."

It was the second assist for Jensen in the game and the 14^th goal of the season for Perkins who is second on the team in scoring this season.

The Rangers didn't let up in the final six minutes, keeping the pressure on to avoid allowing any Gulf Coast runs at the goal, and the horn sounded with Northwest just one game away from defending their Region 23 championship.

Balance was the key to the win, with no Ranger taking more than five shots on the way to 26 team attempts, 12 of which were on goal.

"There's not one player that is going to win us games," Beattie said. "It needs to come from multiple different people so the fact that it comes from multiple is key. We could have another two score on Friday, could be another two come postseason, it's whoever steps up."

Barton finished with another four saves on the way to her 15^th win of the year, only allowing a goal on the opening penalty kick. She has been a rock all season for Northwest and Beattie said they wouldn't be in the position they are without the sophomore's leadership.

"She's someone that has stepped up and has been big time for us this year. I can't speak highly enough of her as a person and as a player and she's a big part of why we have had success this year."

The win moves Northwest into the Region 23 championship for the fourth straight year, coming away with wins in the last two as they search for a three-peat and a return trip to the NJCAA National Tournament held in Wichita, Kansas, on November 16^th through the 22^nd.

Perkins said the season and everything that has happened from the highs to the lows has prepared them for the moments ahead.

"Our team is closer now than we've ever been. Honestly, the loss to Holmes only brought us closer so we might have needed that to come back. We are going to put in the work. We can do it."

You can keep up with Ranger schedule updates and more by visiting nwccrangers.com or by following along on Northwest Mississippi social media accounts.