No. 6 Bulldogs fight to season’s end in Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — No. 6 Mississippi Gulf Coast launched a massive comeback attempt here in Rocket City on Tuesday, and the Bulldogs forced overtime against top-seeded Pima before losing 3-2.

Gulf Coast needed to win by two goals to advance out of Pool A at the NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship. They erased a two-goal deficit and put a scare in the Aztecs.

"The main thing is this team belongs in the conversation with the top teams in the country," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "Did we win the games? No, but I was proud of their fight. They showed up and played well for more than 180 minutes."

The Bulldogs lost a pair of one-game games in pool play this time. It's the second time the school has advanced to the national championship, and all four losses have been by one goal.

Pima (19-2) got the game's first goal on a 32^nd-minute penalty. Gulf Coast (12-4-5) needed to win by two goals to advance to the semifinal, so they had to press aggressively.

"We tried some things that didn't work early in order to try to get an early goal," Handy said. "After going down a goal, it made it a lot more difficult, and we had to continue to press. In general, it's a really good team, and I felt like it could have gone either way."

The task got even more difficult when Pima got a second in the 63^rd minute.

The Bulldogs, though, quickly got back in it. Victor Moerck (So., Vaerlose, Denmark/Lyngby Handelsgymnasium) scored his 15^th goal of the season five minutes later. The Pima keeper spilled a rebound, and he pounced for the 32^nd goal of his Gulf Coast career.

Three minutes later, it was all tied up. Jasintho Wielders (Fr., Krimpen aan den Ijssel, Netherlands/Zadkine College) punished a weak punch clearance by the keeper with a side volley in the 71^st minute. It was his fifth goal.

"We saw some openings midway through the first half," Handy said. "At halftime, we were able to make the adjustments to get them moving around a little bit. We were able to give ourselves time at the back to pick up our heads and play more direct. Eventually, they slowed down to our pace as their legs went, and the game kind of evened out."

Gulf Coast stayed aggressive, still needing two goals. Once the game went to overtime, however, there was no hope of advancing. Pima managed the winner in the 94^th minute, leaving exhausted Bulldogs across the pitch.

It was the last Gulf Coast game for a sophomore class that has accomplished a lot at Perk.

"They won a conference championship and qualified with an at-large bid for the national tournament," Handy said. "We have a lot to be proud of, and our players going to get the recognition they deserve. I look forward to helping them move on."

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.