By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Sept. 25, 2004
Meridian Community College struggled to establish an early rhythm in its men's soccer match against East Central Community College, but Travis Brown changed that quickly and often.
The sophomore from Clinton netted three goals on Friday and goalie Justin Clearman held stifled the Warriors' offense as the Eagles shut out East Central 4-0.
Brown's first goal, midway through the first half, ended a back-and-forth stint for both offenses, helping the Eagles take momentum for most of the rest of the game.
Brown added another goal from 20 yards out with his left foot in the 39th minute, arcing the shot over East Central goalie Ragan Denham's head and giving Meridian a 2-0 halftime lead.
And though the Eagles' two first-half goals were all they needed, it could have been worse for the Warriors. Chad Brunson lofted a shot in the 26th minute that bounced off the crossbar and over the goal. Less than a minute later, John Mark Kilpatrick beat Denham and got off a shot from the left side of the box, but East Central's Zach Kilpatrick.
Denham also made a diving save in the first half's final minute.
Brown narrowly missed out on his hat trick in the 56th minute when a shot glanced off the crossbar and out of bounds, but the Warriors were not so fortunate in the 75th minute. Brown penetrated East Central's box and fired off a pass to the left side, and though the Warriors deflected the ball, Brunson recovered the rebound and blasted the Eagles' third goal.
With the win safe in hand, Brown drove the final nail into East Central's coffin with his third goal of the game in the 86th minute, winning a footrace to the ball in the Warriors' goal box and scoring from close range. The Eagles' defense also survived a late scoring threat inside their own box, surviving a handful of point-blank range scoring opportunities from East Central before the clearing the ball away.
Meridian improved to 6-3 and will face Copiah-Lincoln today at 3 p.m. The Lady Eagles will play at 1 p.m