FLOWOOD — Over the course of several seasons, Warren Central girls’ soccer coach Jay Madison has become familiar enough with his team to know there is one terrible game coming at some point.

When it comes against a talented team like Northwest Rankin, as it did Friday night, it just gets that much worse.

Northwest Rankin scored three goals in the first 11 minutes, and six in the first half, as it routed the Lady Vikes 11-0. Madison Crain scored three goals and Taylor Collum two for the Cougars, who are the defending Class 6A champions.

“I feel like we are better than that. I guess today was just an off day for us all,” Warren Central senior midfielder Katelyn Morson said. “I think it’s easy to shake it off. Yeah, it’s going to sting our hearts for a little bit, but we all can get over it.”

It didn’t take long for Northwest Rankin (6-1) to assert its dominance. One minute into the game, a cross was deflected onto the foot of Crain, who easily tapped it into an open net for a quick 1-0 lead.
Abbi Ashley added another goal in the sixth minute and Alyssia Davis in the 11th as Northwest Rankin kept up the pressure and poured in the goals.

Collum scored on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, Crain found the net again in the 29th, and Collum got her second off a corner kick in the final seconds before halftime to put the Cougars ahead 6-0.

Five different players scored for Northwest Rankin in the second half. Crain completed her hat trick with a successful penalty kick, while Abbi Russell, Karson Harper, Sandison Gibbs and Molly Ford scored more conventional goals.

Northwest Rankin took 20 shots on goal in the game and 13 corner kicks. Warren Central only had one shot, on a rush late in the first half. It was easily snuffed out by Northwest keeper Carley Williams.

(B) NW Rankin 3, Warren Central 1

Northwest Rankin scored twice off of corner kicks in the second half to earn a hard-fought victory over Warren Central on Friday night.

Braylen Greer gave Warren Central (5-2) a 1-0 lead on a penalty kick early in the first half, but Northwest Rankin (6-0-1) rallied with three unanswered goals to secure the win. It’s the fifth win for Northwest Rankin in its past six meetings with the Vikings.

Warren Central will have a quick turnaround, as it hosts crosstown rival Vicksburg High Saturday at 10 a.m. It will be a boys game only. The girls game was canceled.