SENATOBIA – The Northwest Mississippi Community College men's soccer team (5-4-2, 3-1) picked up another big win at home, taking down Holmes Community College (5-6-1, 0-3-1) thanks to some stingy defense and a few timely goals for a 2-1 victory, moving up to a tie for third in the MACCC table through the opening four games of conference play.
"You take it when you can get it," Head Coach Windham Whatley said. "Hats off to Holmes. I think they had a good game plan coming in, and they took away some of our stuff and created some of their own stuff. Taking three points when you don't necessarily play well is a good thing, though, and we will take it."
After a first half where Northwest didn't get a lot going toward the net, it was the Rangers who struck first in the 42nd minute on a corner kick when a cross from Joseph Jackson found the feet of Jairo Mendez, resulting in a tap-in goal and a 1-0 lead for NWCC that they would take into the break.
The excitement would be quieted in the early second half on a similar play, where the Bulldogs had three straight chances on rebounds, finally capitalizing on a shot from Mouhamed Thiam that would even the game at one just three minutes into the second half.
Neither team was able to get much going after that, with plenty of shots from both sides, but no real results.
It wouldn't be until a miscue by the Bulldogs in the 78th minute that the deadlock would be lifted when a ball into the box on a service by the Rangers was incidentally headed into the goal by Lian Noll, shocking the visitors and helping Northwest back in front for a 2-1 lead.
Holmes was never able to threaten again from close range after that thanks to a Northwest attack that kept the pressure on the Bulldogs for the final 12 minutes and eventually resulted in a victory for the Rangers.
The win helped Northwest avoid a second straight loss after dropping a match on Tuesday to #5 Jones College, and moved them into a tie with Meridian Community College (7-3) at 3-1 in the conference standings. It also gave them a full three points over Hinds Community College, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and East Mississippi Community College, who all sit with 2-2 records after the first third of the conference slate.
"I think we did play well against Jones, but you have to be able to bounce back, and you can't go two games without taking three points in this league," Whatley said. "It was a slow start, but the boys ultimately got three points."
It is the first time since 2008 that the Ranger men's soccer team has earned three wins in their first four conference games since the 2008 season when they would go on to a 6-2 record in conference action.
Northwest now heads into a needed off week before heading out on the road for a battle with Gulf Coast (4-5-1, 2-2) on Friday evening. The match will be the first time that Whatley faces off against his former team, but more importantly, it will be a chance to gain even more separation from a conference contender.
"We need some rest, most importantly," Whatley said. "You can see it in their bodies; it's a fight every game, so they need some time away from the game to rest," Whatley said. "It's Gulf Coast coming in, and it gives us a week to come up with a plan and implement it over a week instead of just one day."
Follow along with Northwest athletics by visiting nwccrangers.com or by checking out Ranger social media accounts.
