JACKSON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's soccer team defeated the #9 nationally ranked West Alabama Tigers in their Gulf South Conference opener on Thursday night by a score of 3-2. The game was played at the Belhaven Bowl in Jackson, Miss.

The Choctaws improved to 3-1-0 on the season, while the Tigers fell to 2-1-1.
 

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HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Choctaws stuck quickly against the 9th ranked Tigers when in the 12th minute, Wanner Paiz netted the first goal of the match on a cross for Andy Alanis who was credited with an assist.
- MC would then capitalize on a UWA foul in the box in the 14th. The Choctaws were awarded a penalty kick and Connor Johnson stepped up to put it in and give MC the early 2-0 lead.
- UWA came roaring back in the second half, first with a goal in the 68th from Ali Brador whose header found the back of the net to get the Tigers on the board. The assist on the play came from Harrison Roberts.
- The Tigers were able to tie the match in the 82nd when Brador struck again off of a corner kick, this time with the assist coming from Callum Rai.
- The Choctaws were able to respond and put the Tigers away when a foul on Caleb Carpenter gave MC a free kick from 25 yards out. Owen Connelly took what would be the game winning kick in the 86th minute. Connelly's shot skipped past the Tiger keeper into the bottom left corner of the net giving the Choctaws a 3-2 lead which would hold and be the final score of the match.
 

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KEY STATS
- MC outshot the Tigers 14 to 6 in the match. The Choctaws had 6 of those 14 shots directed on goal.
- There were 23 fouls called in the match, 14 against the Choctaws and nine against the Tigers.
- Seven yellow cards were awarded in the match, three for the Choctaws and 4 against the Tigers. The most critical of those yellow cards for the Tigers was awarded to goalkeeper Ollie Harrison which led to the penalty kick goal by Conner Johnson.
- The lone red card of the match was awarded to UWA's Callum Rai which would end up being the downfall of the Tigers as it set up Connelly's game winner.
 

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NEXT UP
- The Choctaws will be back in GSC action this Sunday September 16 as they travel to Huntsville, Ala. to face UAH. That match is currently scheduled for a 3:30 P.M. start time.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships beginning with the 2018-19 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.