By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
August 24, 2003
SCOOBA The Jones Junior College Bobcats kicked off the 2003 soccer season with a clean sweep of the East Mississippi Community College Lions in local junior college soccer action on Saturday.
In very hot and humid conditions visiting JCJC scored a 4-1 win in the women's game followed by an impressive 8-0 shutout in the men's match. The EMCC women and men return to action on Wednesday at home against Pearl River.
JCJC Women 4
EMCC 1
The Lady Bobcats used a late scoring surge to take the three-goal decision over East Mississippi in the season-opener for both squads. Jones got its first score of the afternoon with 36:32 left in the first half on a goal from Shauna Craig. The Lady Lions answered right back only minutes later with a goal of their own. Alisha Meggs took advantage of a Jones mistake on defense and got an easy score to knot the game at 1-1 with 31:24 remaining in the opening half.
After the goal by Meggs the Lady Bobcats almost took back the lead, but thanks to an unbelievable save by Goalkeeper Layla Ashitany the game remain tied. Craig had a wide open net for the score, but Ashitany made the diving stop to keep the contest tied at 1-1 going into the intermission.
The Lady Bobcats opened the second half with a very quick score by Kellie Bishop. Craig set the play up from the right side of the Lion goal and assisted in the second score on the season for Jones. Only three minutes later in the second half Ashley Hughes got yet another big score for Jones to put the Bobcats up 3-1 with 21:45 left in the game.
Sarah Bridges added the final score of the day for the Bobcats on a dead ball kick after a penalty by East Mississippi. The Lady Lions were limited to just three shots on goal for the game.
JCJC Men 8
EMCC 0
The duo of Ivan Lopez and Brandon Easterwood helped pace the Bobcat attack to the easy eight goal win over East Mississippi in the men's match. Easterwood started the offensive attack with a goal seven minutes into the game to give Jones the early 1-0 lead. The Bobcats added their second goal of the afternoon on a score from Jeremy Young with 15:45 remaining in the first half to give Jones a 2-0 edge over EMCC.
Lopez then took over the game adding three huge scores to pace the Bobcat offense. Lopez notched two of his scores in the second half and
Duke Hemenway and Adam Bailey added a goal apiece to round out the barrage of goals for the visiting JCJC Bobcats.
The Jones men play host to Holmes at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The men and women play host to Northwest Community College on Sept. 2, with the women's game beginning at 2 p.m. and the men's at 4 p.m.