Warren Central moved another step closer to a rare region championship on Friday.

Rachel Opperman scored the game’s only goal midway through the second half, and the Lady Vikes defeated Neshoba Central 1-0 to move within one more victory of the MHSAA Region 2-6A girls’ soccer title.

Opperman scored a goal for the third game in a row, off an assist from Gloria Hall in 55th minute. Keeper Hayleigh Simmons made three saves and some outstanding defense in front of her made it stand up.

Warren Central (12-4, 5-0 Region 2-6A) can clinch its first region championship since 2019 — and only its second in the past 15 years — by beating Ridgeland on Jan. 30 in a game that was rescheduled from this past week.

The Lady Vikes can also clinch if it wins its next two region games before that meeting — Jan. 23 at home vs. Vicksburg or Jan. 25 at Columbus.

Warren Central could have clinched Friday if Ridgeland had lost to Vicksburg, but Ridgeland won that game 2-0.

Boys
Warren Central 3, Neshoba Central 0
Jacob Porter scored two goals, and Laney Lewis had a goal and an assist to lead Warren Central’s boys’ soccer team past Neshoba Central (6-11-2, 2-4 Region 2-6A).

Lewis set up Porter for the Vikings’ first goal in the fifth minute of the game, and then scored one of his own in the 28th to make it 2-0 at halftime.

Porter’s second goal, off an assist from Luke Bond, put the Vikings ahead 3-0 in the 52nd minute.

Warren Central outshot Neshoba Central 15-7 and put eight of its shots on goal. WC keeper Colby Solomon made four saves for his ninth shutout of the season.

Warren Central (11-4-1, 5-0) remained in first place in Region 2-6A, a game ahead of Ridgeland (10-2-4, 4-1). Ridgeland defeated Vicksburg 10-0 on Friday.

Warren Central and Ridgeland will play each other in the regular-season finale Jan. 30 at Viking Stadium. The game was rescheduled from this past week because of weather.