In the first half of Friday’s non-division match between Brookhaven and Warren Central, the Vikings peppered the Old Brook goal with shot after shot after shot.

Passes were spot on, but the finishing touches weren’t just there. Shots bounced off the crossbar, off the posts. Brookhaven keeper Happy Uppal made several spectacular saves and frustration mounted.

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But when Eric Chappell finally got the Vikes on the board with just over three minutes remaining in the first half off a nice dish by Tim Hoeptner, the cloud of frustration lifted.

Chappell later added another goal and Jamal Brinnon anchored a shutout in-goal as the Vikings raced to a 4-0 win over Brookhaven.

It was a nice test for the Vikings (12-3) going into today’s all-important match at Clinton. The Vikings and Arrows will battle for the Division 4-6A crown today and on Monday back at Viking Stadium. The winner of the goal differential in the two matches will host a playoff match on Jan. 26.

“I didn’t realize they (Brookhaven) were that good,” WC coach Greg Head said. “They were very quick. This was a good game before Clinton. I think we’re going to be ready. We’ve been working on some good things for tomorrow.”

The Vikings kept the ball mostly on the Brookhaven side of the field, but just were unable to finish the deal.

Hoeptner flicked the ball over the top of the defense to a streaking Chappell for the junior’s first goal and Buddy Cook assisted on the second goal and Chappell was there for the tap-in. In the 48th minute, Jacob Pettersson took a nice dish in the front of the box from Tre Wilson and booted it in to put the Vikes up 3-0.  The final goal of the night was an odd one, as Uppal lost the handle on a save off a shot by Wilson and the ball rolled into the back of the net to complete the scoring for WC.

WC 3, Brookhaven 0

Lindsey Barfield scored two goals, one off an assist by Jessica Gates, to pace a shutout of Brookhaven. Mallory Reynolds scored the other WC goal off an assist by Lindsey Burris.

Jazmine Walker and Katie Humphries combined for the shutout in-goal for WC (7-6-3).

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com