By By Jamie Sullivan/The Meridian Star
Nov. 4, 2001
RAYMOND The Meridian Community College Eagles have added another Region 23 Championship to their collection, defeating Hinds 7-1 Saturday night, for their eighth consecutive championship.
After being crowned Region 23 Champions, MCC coach Steve Clemment was asked if this championship was any different than the other seven.
Shaun King was the leading scorer for the Eagles, scoring four times.
The Eagles were in a deadlock going into the halftime intermission, but after the break, they started to roll.
MCC had 14 shots on goal, with seven of them finding net. Hinds only had four shots, but one found the net.
The first goal came with 31:03 left in the game, when one of King's four goals hit the back of the net for the Eagles.
The Eagles struck again four minutes later when King pulled the goalie out of the net to assist himself for his second goal of the night. MCC led the contest 2-0.
The next goal for the Eagles came when Garthfield White crossed the ball to King, pulling out the goalie out once again, to a wide open goal. The Eagles added to their lead at 3-0.
Later in the half, Marlon Sullivan hit the net from 20-yards out to make the score 4-0.
King finished his scoring binge with 15:50 left in the game, when he pulled the trigger, and hit his intented target to make the score 5-0.
Hinds got on the board late in the game, when Brian Pope booted in a goal for Hinds. This goal made the score 5-1.
After letting Hinds score, Stuart Winwright put on a scoring expo himself. With 3:18 left in the game, Winwright tapped in his first goal of the night, to extend the lead to 6-1.
The final goal of the night came with 1:22 left in the game, when Winwright slipped another shot by the goalie to make the score 7-1.
As for their chances of repeating as National Champions, King replied;"It would be great, that is my dream to be on a national title team, I'd love to be a national champion."
The Eagles will be in action again on Friday, as they will have to travel to Houston, Texas to face-off with Northeatern Oklahoma.
Jamie Sullivan is a sports writer for the Meridian Star, he can be reached by email at jsullivan@themeridianstar.com,or by phone at 693-1551 ext. 3226.