Rush Inv. recap (soccer)

(MERIDIAN) - With a capacity crowd on hand Friday night at C.D. Smith Field, the Meridian Community College Lady Eagle Soccer team went head to head with the No. 2 ranked- Polk Community College out of Tampa, Florida in conjunction with this year's Rush Invitational hosted by MCC.

It was a stalemate for much of the first half as Polk struck with 16 minutes left in the first half. The Lady Eagles bounced back and pressured their attacking third until sophomore forward Christina Murray was fouled in the penalty box setting up a pivotal opportunity.

Murray's penalty shot came short as Polk's keeper was able to make an amazing one handed save to deny the Lady Eagle's surge.

The second half the Lady Eagle's did not respond well and Polk possessed the half taking a 3-0 lead before the end of regulation.

"It's one of those matches that you half to put together an entire game and we weren't able to do that today," said MCC head coach Alex George.

"You get a ‘breakout’ game that could lead to national attention and that's when you have to show up to work."

In the Friday nightcap of the Rush Invitational soccer tournament at MCC the host-Eagles took on Gordon (GA) Community College.

The game was scoreless thru one half, 0-0 at intermission.

In the second half, Gordon came out and scored a goal to take a 1-0 lead.

The visiting team held on 1-0 for the win despite a strong effort from MCC in the final half.

"We played solid in the second half but weren't able to get a goal across," said MCC head coach Alex George.

On Saturday, the Lady Eagles put together an impressive shut-out 10-0 win over the Lady Highlanders of Gordon Community College of Barnesville, Georgia.

"Today was a total team effort by our ladies. They came out strong and finished strong," said head coach Alex George.

"I am extremely proud of their performance and it gives us a lot of momentum going into tomorrow's contest".

MCC’s women then knocked off No. 6 Emory College 4-0 in their last match of the Rush Invitational on Sunday.

Scoring a hat trick for the lady eagles was freshman Anastasia Vogel of Tupelo.

Sophomore Christina Murray added the lone goal for MCC.

"Today we strung together two halves and the results show," said MCC head coach Alex George.

The MCC men's team made it a clean sweep on the final day of the Rush Invitational as the Eagles defeated former MACJC-rival, Itawamba Community College, 6-1.

Overall, MCC teams went 3-2 during the tournament.