Vicksburg and Raymond did their best Tuesday night to fight the notion that soccer is a low-scoring, boring game.

The boys’ teams combined for 12 goals — including four in the first 15 minutes — and when the dust settled it was the homestanding Gators who came out on top with a 7-5 win at Memorial Stadium.

Greg Hayden scored five goals for Vicksburg (4-5), while Tyler Kimble had a goal and an assist. Micheal James also scored a goal.

“It was extremely fast paced,” Vicksburg coach Kristin Williams said with a laugh.

Raymond scored the first goal, but Vicksburg answered back with three in a span of about three minutes. Kimble scored the tying goal, and then Hayden the go-ahead goal two minutes later. After taking the ball from Raymond off the kickoff, James scored to make it 3-1 and the Gators never trailed again.
Hayden scored the rest of the team’s goals.

Jayvionn Stribling and Chance Williams had assists, while goal keeper Parker Demeranville made 13 saves.

“Our communication was phenomenal,” Kristin Williams said. “I was extremely proud of the improvements made with communicating and staying in the game when calls didn’t go our way.”

The Gators will play at Ridgeland on Friday night in a Division 4-5A game.

(G) Vicksburg 6, Raymond 1

Mikayla Banks scored all six of Vicksburg’s goals and keeper Virgie Demby made eight saves as the Missy Gators beat Raymond on Tuesday night.

Banks’ six goals gave her 31 for the season, and 142 for her high school career. She passed Kristin Chapman for second place on the school’s all-time scoring list.