By Staff
Editor's note: This story was inadvertently left out of the weekend papers.
By Robby Atkinson/The Meridian Star
Sept. 10, 2001
The Meridian Community College Eagle soccer team scored an exciting come-from-behind win over South Georgia Community College in double overtime Friday by a final score of 5-4.
The Eagles fell behind early in the first period of action when South Georgia forward Shaun Camay scored a quick goal with 34:20 remaining to give the visitors an early 1-0 advantage. The Tigers of South Georgia were determined to pull off the huge upset of the defending NJCAA National Champions by yet scoring another goal. This time it was freshman defender Jeremy Casellucci who chipped the ball in for a score to give the Tigers a 2-0 edge with 28:47 left in the opening period of action.
MCC finally answered with a score from freshman defender Marlon Sullivan to cut the South Georgia lead with 22:51 left in the offensive period.
Meridian tied the game midway in the second period on a penalty shot from Garthfield Whyte to knot the game at 2-2. South Georgia scored a very quick shot to regain the lead with 12:36 left in the period and made the score 3-2. South Georgia once again showed poise by building their impressive lead on a goal by forward JoJo Westall to make the score 4-2 with 9:35 remaining in the game.
The Eagles mounted a very big comeback by scoring a pair of goals to send the game into overtime.
The first goal came with 5:25 left by Sullivan and the second score came off the foot of forward Kevin King to send the game into sudden death overtime.
MCC cashed in with no time remaining in the second overtime when Whyte hit a crucial penalty shot to give Meridian the victory.