SENATOBIA – Tuesday night was one of the most complete games for the Northwest Mississippi Community College men's soccer team (3-3-2, 1-0) as they fought their way to a stunning 3-1 win over #20 Copiah-Lincoln Community College (4-1-1, 0-1), handing the Wolves their first loss of the season and earning their first win over a ranked opponent since at least 2020.
"We knew it was going to take a hot start and we knew it was going to take everyone for the full 90 and the boys bought into it, and it's a great start to what we need to be doing," Head Coach Windham Whatley said.
The Rangers jumped out in the 19th minute when a corner kick was delivered into the box from Joseph Jackson and found Jaylen Gray on the front post as the freshman just beat the Co-Lin goalie to the ball to surprise the Wolves and put Northwest in front on their first shot of the game.
Eight minutes later, in the 27th, it was almost a replay of the previous point when a throw-in from Osvaldo Macias found Luke Lowerimore on the edge of the six-yard box, and the freshman capitalized to set the Rangers up with a 2-0 lead, which they would hold onto all the way to the halftime whistle.
"I saw the keeper come out a little too far and I knew I had to execute my moment," Lowrimore said.
Lowrimore's goal also saw him become the 10th Ranger to score a goal this season, as they continued to show their balance on the pitch. Even better, the goals have been assisted this year by 14 different players, showing an ability for the offense to come from anyone at any point.
"It honestly has been everybody," Whatley said. "Jaylen stepped up again tonight, and Luke stepped up tonight. He went from not getting many minutes at all, to getting on the scoresheet, and doing all the pressing and running that we ask of him. But that's what it's going to take to achieve our goals. It's our depth, and our depth stepped up tonight."
The energy from the Rangers carried into the second half, with the defense holding off an initial onslaught from the Wolves and eventually striking for a third goal, this time with Jackson earning his sixth of the season when Jairo Mendez found him on the left side of the goal and the English freshman found the top left corner to extend the lead in the 62nd minute to 3-0.
There was no backing down from Co-Lin despite the large lead for the Rangers, but the Northwest defense continued to come up with key disruptions to the visitors' attack, with strong play from TJay Gibb in goal, breaking up multiple crosses before they could reach a waiting target, and a furious back four who were constantly able to break up runs from Co-Lin well outside the 18-yard box.
The only breakdown happened in the 86th minute when a handball on an awkward bounce led to a penalty kick for Co-Lin, and even that was nearly saved by Gibb, who got a hand on the dive to his left before it snuck inside the post.
"to go 87 minutes and keep the clean sheet, and it's an unfortunate bounce, and to have TJay get a hand to it, you applaud it, and you don't look at the one on the scoreboard and keep moving forward," Whatley said.
Lowrimore added to the praise on the defense as well, and the overall mindset of the team.
"This defense has been amazing. They have been very solid, and it's helped us a lot. They aren't scared to go up for the ball, and they are a brick wall," he said. "The attitude and the atmosphere has changed, and it definitely helps us overall."
The win improves the Rangers to 3-0-2 on their home field, with their only losses coming on the road or at neutral sites. It also marks back-to-back seasons in which the Rangers have won their conference opener, and three out of the last four, with wins over East Mississippi Community College last year and Meridian Community College in 2023.
Northwest continues their season on Friday night when they travel to Southwest Mississippi Community College (5-2, 0-1), with the Bears coming off a tough 5-0 loss to Pearl River Community College on the road. The Rangers picked up a 3-1 win last season at home in their final win of the season, snapping a nine-match losing streak to the Bears. The last time they won back-to-back games over Southwest was the 2014 season.
"I think we have found something, but now we need to not let the little details slide, and to keep working on things and show the importance of working together, and if we stick with that, I think we will be just fine," Whatley said.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with more information on the match online at nwccrangers.com. Keep up with more on the Northwest men's soccer team and all athletics by following along with Northwest social media accounts.
