RAYMOND — Meridian Community College, featuring a lineup with five starters from Vicksburg, won its first and, possibly only Mississippi Community and Junior College women’s soccer championship Sunday afternoon at Hinds.

Former Vicksburg High Missy Gator Holly Head scored two second half goals to lead the Lady Eagles past Gulf Coast 3-1 in the state championship game. Hinds, the host of the four-team state tournament, was upset Saturday afternoon by Gulf Coast 2-1 in a shootout loss. Hinds came back to defeat Itawamba 6-0 Sunday to earn third place and qualify for the Region 23 Tournament that Meridian will host, but not at MCC.

In the men’s championship later Sunday, former Vicksburg High standout Michael Cooper scored a goal as Hinds won the region championship over Gulf Coast, 2-1.

“The Region 23 officials said our field was not wide enough to host the region,” said MCC Athletic Director Hilary Allen. “But we will host it somewhere in Meridian, I just don’t know where.”

As for 2007, the Lady Eagles are state champions.

“This feels really great. And to do it with so many Vicksburg girls on the same team, makes it really special for me,” said MCC freshman Kari Lieberman.

Lieberman, a Warren Central product, started on MCC’s front line with Head and fellow VHS grad Jill Rush, scored the game’s first goal on a header following a corner kick assist from Rush with 35:18 left in the first half.

“I’ve played with Jill a lot on WAV United, but we never worked much on corner kicks. I was just at the right place at the right time,” Lieberman said.

Gulf Coast did not mount any offensive pressure until 14 minutes were left in the first half. MCC (16-1-2) turned away the chances thanks to the play of Crystal Davidson and Chelsa Jones, who played at halfback for the Lady Eagles.

The Lady Bulldogs tied the game in the 33rd minute of the second half on a goal from Nicki Bailey.

Head soon untied it. She split two Lady Bulldog defenders and drove in a 25-yard kick a little over a minute after the Gulf Coast goal.

Gulf Coast had three shots to tie it but one went wide and the other two were stopped in goal.

Head was tackled hard with five minutes left and left the field briefly. but came back to score a clinching goal in the 88th minute for a 3-1 lead.

“I’ll have a week or so to rest. That’s all I have to say,” Head said.

Hinds won the consolation game behind four goals from Kendal Lee. Hinds (9-3-2) had five Vicksburg girls see action led by defenders Lucy Matthews, Beverley Simmons, Viktoria Case, Shantta Taylor and Mallory Wells.