Losses put VHS’ shot at playoffs in jeopardy
Published 5:59 pm Wednesday, December 12, 2018
One difficult week turned into a major speed bump on the Vicksburg Gators’ road to the MHSAA boys’ soccer playoffs.
Jordan Campbell scored two goals, while Daniel Gomez had a goal and an assist as Ridgeland beat the Gators 6-0 on Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium.
Ridgeland completed a two-game season sweep — it won 10-0 at home on Friday — to push Vicksburg to the brink of elimination in the Region 4-5A playoff race. Vicksburg (4-5, 2-2 Region 4-5A) now needs to beat Germantown (4-4-2, 0-0) at home on Thursday night to keep its hopes alive.
The Gators would also likely need to beat Germantown on the road when they play the second half of their home-and-home series on Jan. 15.
“I have nothing good to say about the last two games, other than we are still fighting and haven’t given up,” Vicksburg coach Destin Ellis said. “I feel like if we go into the game with confidence, we have a chance with everyone we play the rest of the season.”
Vicksburg had swept Callaway to move into first place in the region, and then got blitzed by Ridgeland (8-4, 2-0). Seven players scored for the Titans in Friday’s game, and they jumped out to a 4-0 halftime lead on Tuesday before cruising home to the win.
Keaton Tingley, Emanuel Renk, Felix Penaloza and Jesus Juarez all scored one goal for the Titans. Keeper Josh Campbell had the shutout in goal.
(G) Ridgeland 7, Vicksburg 0
Elizabeth Jackson scored two goals, and Giselle Sierra-Bennett had two goals and an assist as Ridgeland (7-5, 2-0 Region 4-5A) routed Vicksburg (3-8, 2-2).
Ridgeland had also beaten VHS 11-0 on Friday.
(G) Warren Central 1, Pearl 0
Laney Smith scored the game’s only goal in the 69th minute to give Warren Central (5-2-2) a victory over Pearl (2-9-2).
Sarah Prescott assisted Smith on the goal — Warren Central’s first in 2 ½ games — and keeper Layken Stockstill made five saves to earn the Lady Vikes’ sixth shutout of the season.
In the boys’ game, Josh Griffin scored Warren Central’s only goal as it tied Pearl 1-1.
Warren Central’s girls’ team will play at Richland on Saturday at 9 a.m. The boys will take on Lewisburg, also at Richland High School, at 2:30 p.m.