Parker scores 6 in two victories

[12/07/02]A move two games ago keeps paying dividends for the Vicksburg Missy Gators.

Coach Kevin Manton moved sweeper Brandi Head up the field, replacing her with Tayvi Ellis. Head responded Friday night with a goal and two assists in a frigid 3-2 win over Northwest Rankin in the opening round of the WC/VHS Girls Classic at Memorial Stadium.

“What we had wasn’t working,” said Manton, whose team improved to 9-1-1 and will play either Meridian or St. Andrew’s today in the tournament championship game at 1 p.m. at VHS. “I had heard that Tayvi played sweeper for her club team and Brandi is leaving after this year, so I have to find someone to replace her.”

Brandi Parker scored two goals and Holly Head had an assist.

In the second game, Parker scored four goals and had an assist to lift Vicksburg to a 6-1 win over Ruston, La., and a spot in today’s championship game.

Holly Head had a goal and two assists and Brandi Head scored a goal against Ruston.

“We got behind early, but came back and it is good to see that,” Manton said of the first game. “We got up and let them tie it, but we never quit.”

The defending state champion Missy Gators fell behind on a Hannah Tyler penalty kick, but Parker’s first goal with 1 minute, 37 seconds to play in the first half tied the game at 1-1.

Parker gave Vicksburg the lead 22 seconds into the second half on an assist from Brandi Head. Parker took the ball down the right side of the field and beat Northwest’s goalie on a severe angle.

Rachel Nelson tied the game again for Northwest Rankin 8 1/2 minutes later on a corner kick, but Brandi Head’s goal off of a Holly Head corner kick midway through the second half proved to be the game-winner.

“We still have to improve on our overall hustle and trying to win the 50-50 balls,” Manton said.

Lady Vikes out after 2 defeats

Sports writer

[12/07/02]St. Andrew’s shut down Warren Central’s slumping offense in the second half Friday night and used a pair of short goals to beat the Lady Vikes 2-0 in the WC/VHS Girls Classic tournament.

WC (3-5) managed only three shots in the game, and none in the second half. The Lady Vikes’ best scoring chance came midway through the first half, when Lyn Strawn lifted a long, floating shot from about 25 yards out.

It cleared the outstretched hand of St. Andrew’s goalie Catherine Lowe, who jumped for the ball, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and bounced out of play.

“It always takes us a little while to get going in a game. At the end of the first half, I thought they were looking pretty good. We were playing fine, we just had some errors as far as the goals (allowed),” WC coach Holly Lane said.

St. Andrew’s (7-1-1) got on the board early when Mary Robinson took a cross from Jordan Hailey about five feet in front of the goal, got an angle on her defender and tapped the ball past WC keeper Claudette Gilman for a 1-0 lead.

“Typically we play them higher and try to head them in, but whatever works, works,” St. Andrew’s coach Kori Condon said with a laugh.

The Lady Saints controlled most of the game and outshot WC 12-3, but needed the Lady Vikes’ help for their second goal.

Midway through the second half, Hailey sent a corner kick toward the goal box. It didn’t come down near any St. Andrew’s players, but did deflect off of a Lady Vike and into the net to make it 2-0.

“I don’t know if she misjudged it or what. It looked to me like the goalie could have gotten it, but there might have been some miscommunication there and it hit her body and bounced in,” Lane said.

Meridian 2, WC 1

Megan Carlisle scored on an assist from Alisha Lawrence, but the Lady Vikes fell to Meridian in a sudden-death shootout Friday night.