The Lamar girls soccer team downed Indianola Academy 4-0 on Tuesday in the first round of the MAIS Division II playoffs. The Raiders advance to Saturday’s championship game against Laurel Christian at Northeast Park at 1 p.m.

Against Indianola, the Raiders got two goals from Mary Margaret Arrington and one goal apiece from Merrick Watkins and Mary Love Hodge.

Jamesia Kenney assisted on two goals for Lamar, which improved to 14-4.

The Raiders also defeated Central Hinds 11-0 on Sept. 28. In that game, Arrington netted five goals, while Olive Mabry added four scores. Miller Watkins and Anna Arrington also scored for Lamar.

— Jamie Wachter



Quitman, Philadelphia advance in softball playoffs

After being delayed by lightning, Quitman’s slow-pitch softball team advanced to the second round of the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs with a three-game win against visiting Purvis on Tuesday.

The Panthers won 6-4 in the first game, before falling 8-6 in eight innings of Game 2. Quitman then won the deciding game 24-14.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia also won in three games. After losing 5-4 to host Seminary in 10 innings of Game 1, the Tornadoes bounced back to win 10-4 and 4-3 in nine innings to advance to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Elsewhere, Meridian, Newton County and Union had first-round games postponed until Thursday.

Enterprise, which was supposed to face Lumberton on Tuesday in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs, will instead now face North Forrest after Lumberton had to forfeit games due to an ineligible player.

Enterprise coach Josh Perkins was not sure of a makeup date Tuesday afternoon.

— Jamie Wachter



JUCO GOLF

Eagles capture NCAA event, win two weeks in a row

The Meridian Community College golf team put together yet another impressive performance Tuesday as the MCC "B team" won the Mississippi College Fall Invitational by two shots over host Mississippi College.

MCC shot 291, the Choctaws shot 293, while Jackson State University had a 310 to place third. East Mississippi shot 313 and placed fourth. Louisiana College shot 320 to round out the top five teams. Mississippi College JV had 329, Belhaven had 373.

"Two wins in a row is impressive but to have your B team win an NCAA hosted event is something else," said MCC head coach Sean Covich.

Three MCC freshman were named to the All Tournament team.

JT Soley led the way, he shot 1-under-par 71 to place third and was named to his first career All-Tournament team.

Bo Reed placed fourth after shooting even-par 72 and was also named to his first career All-Tournament team.

Oscar Mariscal used a dramatic eagle chip in on the final hole to propel MCC to victory and shot 1-over-par 73 and was named to the All-Tournament team.

Tanner Sparks shot a 3-over 75, while freshman Adam Monsen shot a 6-over 78.

The win is the second consecutive for MCC and now the Eagles turn their attention to the NJCAA National Preview next week held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail-Hampton Cove in Huntsville, Ala.

— from school reports



JUCO SOCCER

East Mississippi 3

Pearl River men 1

POPLARVILLE — The East Mississippi men’s soccer team claimed its second win in a week by posting a 3-1 road triumph against Pearl River Monday evening in Poplarville.

  Head coach Junior Noel’s 5-7 Lions had previously snapped a six-match losing skid with a 5-0 home victory against Rust College last Wednesday in Scooba. With the recent pair of wins, the EMCC men have now posted the most victories in a season since the 2001 East Mississippi squad recorded a 7-6-1 mark.

Looking to avenge last month’s 7-2 home loss to Pearl River, the Lions tallied two unanswered second-half goals to break a 1-1 halftime deadlock Monday night in Poplarville. 

Freshman Seth Wood evened the contest in the 44th minute on an assist by Josh Shields. Freshman Eduardo Fumo broke the stalemate with his fifth goal of the year coming in the 60th minute on an assist by Justin Knight of Quitman.

Sophomore Leonardo Reyes iced the contest for the Lions with his state-leading 13th goal of the season on a feed from Tyler Pounders during the 83rd minute of play.

  Reyes is tied for 14th nationally with an MACJC-leading 31 points on the season. In addition to his 13 tallies, the second-year standout has also assisted on five other EMCC goals this year.  

— from school reports 



Pearl River women 4

East Mississippi 0

Playing without injured all-region sophomore Nikeisha Noel, who sustained a high ankle sprain during the first half of Saturday’s match at Jones County, the 2-7-1 Lady Lions dropped their seventh straight decision Monday evening. 

The East Mississippi soccer teams resume MACJC North Division competition Friday at Hinds. With home divisional matches set for next week in Scooba against Northwest Mississippi (Oct. 14) and Itawamba (Oct. 16), both EMCC clubs are in search of their first divisional victories of the 2009 campaign.

— from school reports