By By Austin Bishop/The Meridian Star
Oct. 28, 2001
Despite a 15-minute span in the second half that had usually calm Meridian Community College head soccer coach Steve Clements standing and shouting instructions, the veteran Eagles head man was pleased with his team's 3-1 win over San Jacinto (Texas) College on Saturday afternoon.
All three of Meridian's goals came on crosses, which also pleased Clements, whose No. 6-ranked Eagles are now 14-2-2 on the season.
MCC has to wait until tonight to find out who it will be playing for the Region 23 Championship next week. The MACJC State Tournament is being held in Raymond this weekend, with the title game set for today at 5 p.m.
Meridian will travel to the MACJC winner's home field for a one-game playoff next Saturday.
The winner of that match moves on to the Mid-Southwest District Tournament in Houston the following week.
MCC lead 1-0 at the half and pushed it out to 2-0 before the visiting Coyotes began to put on the offensive pressure.
San Jac cut it to 2-1 on a goal by Jesus Canjura with 13:27 left in the game and nearly tied the score two minutes later.
Goalie Eric Stewart came charged out and snuffed out a two-on-none rally, killing San Jac's best chance at knotting the score.
From that point MCC picked it up some on offense, finally picking up the third goal when Chris Beard gathered in a nice cross from Michael Smith and pushed it past the goalie from 10 yards out with 1:39 left in the game.
Meridian's first goal came with 13:53 left in the first half when Kevin King scored from five-yards out on a nice touch pass from Marlon Sullivan.
King gathered in the ball inside the box and guided it past the San Jac goalie.
The Eagles took a 2-0 lead on the 7-5-4 Coyotes with 37:55 left in the game when Beard scored on a cross from Smith.