MCC Cross Country Posts Another Top Finish

Cleveland, MS – The Meridian Community College Cross Country Team returned to action Saturday with the men placing in the Top 5 for the second meet in a row at the Delta State Cross Country Invitational with a 5^th place finish Saturday.

The men were led by Djano Sedrick for the second week in a row.  Sedrick turned in a 9^th place finish with a time of 20:42.29 on the 6k course.

MCC also had three other runners place in the Top 30 with Cristian Lopez (25^th, 21:37.15), Josh Austin (26^th, 21.42.22) and Tyler Warren (27^th, 22:05.32).  Rounding out the team scoring was William Griffin (34^th, 23:29.41)

“We ran extremely well today against some great competition,” Head Coach Chip Gayden said.  “When you finish closely behind four quality teams and are running all freshmen, it is very exciting.  We ran seven freshmen on the men’s side and only three freshmen from other schools finished ahead of our seven.  That is pretty impressive, especially with it being their first ever race over 5k.”

On the women’s side, the team was led by Esmeralda Rodriguez, who turned in a Top 20 finish placing 19^th in a time of 21:15.00.  Breanna Ivey finished 41^st in a time of 24:01.00. 

“This was a very competitive race for our women’s team,” Gayden said.  “ We ran extremely well in such a competitive field.  We continue to improve each meet, which is a good sign.  I look forward to seeing what we can do in two weeks at Mississippi College.”

Both teams return to action on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Watson Ford Invitational hosted by Mississippi College.

MCC Soccer Sweeps Past Southwest

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College soccer teams returned to action last Friday with another pair of key MACJC South Division matches on the road at Southwest Mississippi Community College. MCC came away with a sweep of Southwest to keep pace in the race among the teams in the South Division with a pair of 3-0 victories.

The MCC women improved its overall record to 4-4 and 3-1 in division play, while the Eagles are currently 2-6 and 2-2 in league play. The Lady Eagles got goals from Danielle Shows in the 7^th minute, Kayla Phillips in the 36^th minute, and Tori Riebock in the final minutes of play. Scoring for the Eagles in its shutout victory were Evinn Watson, Chris Mallette, and Lyle Daughtrey.  

Both teams will travel to Pearl River Community College for another MACJC South Division showdown Tuesday with kick off slated at 5 and 7 p.m.

MCC Soccer Splits Home Set With MGCCC

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College soccer teams returned to action Wednesday night in another key MACJC South Division doubleheader and were looking to continue its recent momentum.

The Lady Eagles started the night off by defeating Mississippi Gulf Coast by a final score of 4-0. MCC improved to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in division play.

MCC started its scoring in the opening four minutes of play as Danielle Shows scored a goal on an sissy from Hannah Byrd to make the score 1-0. The Lady Eagles added one more goal moments later as Byrd did the honors for the green and white to make the score 2-0.

MCC carried the two-goal advantage into the second half and continued to score as Shows added her second goal of the match on another assist by Byrd to make the score 3-0. The Lady Eagles closed the game out with 24 minutes left on a goal by former Clarkdale star Kayla Phillips to make the final score 4-0.

The MCC men tried to complete the sweep of MGCCC, but fell short by a final count of 4-1.

Both teams will return to action Friday with a road trip to Southwest Mississippi Community College. The MCC men will take to the field at 2 p.m. followed by the women's at 4 p.m.      

MCC Cross Country Places Second At USM

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Cross Country Team returned to action Saturday with the men placing second at the Southern Miss Invitational.

The men were led with two top 10 finishers with Djano Sedrick placing 7^th in a time of 17:49.40 and Cristian Lopez finishing 10^th in 18:10.50.

Rounding out the men’s scoring was Tyler Warren (12^th, 18:31.50), Josh Austin (13^th, 18:56.30) and David Odom (16^th 19:44.40). 

“I thought the men ran well today,” Head Coach Chip Gayden said. “We made improvement from our last meet.  It is just really tough to run fast times in this humidity.   We are pleased with a second place finish against quality teams.”

On the women’s side, the team was led again by Esmeralda Rodriguez with a 12^th place finish in a time of 21:50.00 and Breanna Ivey finished 26^th in a time of 25:38.30.

“We ran ok on the women’s side today,” Gayden said.  “I thought we were a little sluggish and never really got in a rhythm early in the race.  When you can’t do that, it makes for a tough day.”

Both teams return to action on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Delta State for the Delta State Cross Country Invitational.

MCC Soccer Sweeps Past Co-Lin

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College Lady Eagles returned to campus Wednesday evening looking to reverse its fortunes in 2014. MCC was looking for its first MACJC South Division victory of the season after dropping its division opener at Jones last Friday.

The Lady Eagles didn't disappoint as sophomore Kayla Phillips led the charge in a 10-2 win over Co-Lin in junior college soccer action Wednesday night at C.D. Smith Field.  

Phillips, the former Clarkdale standout, had a career night in the win with four goals for the green and white. Phillips scored her first goal in the opening six minutes of the contest and Danielle Shows added a goal moments later to give the Lady Eagles a 2-0 edge. Phillips notched her second goal of the match with 22 minutes remaining in the first half and Tori Becerra also collected a goal a few minutes later to give MCC a commanding 4-0 lead.

Phillips completed the hat trick for the Lady Eagle by scoring her third goal just before the end of the first half to give MCC a 5-0 lead at the break. Phillips continued her tear in the beginning minutes of the second half with her fourth goal to extend the MCC lead to 6-0.

Co-Lin scored its lone goals of the match with 30 minutes remaining and 2 minutes left in the match to avoid the shutout. MCC would continue to  score a few minutes later on a goal by Angela Manley to make the count 7-1.

MCC would add its final three scores of the match in the last 15 minutes to win running away by a final count of 10-2. Summer Stockstill, Kaytee Nelson, and Katie Valentine each scored a goal apiece down the stretch to finish the night for the Lady Eagles.

The MCC women improved to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the MACJC South Division, while Co-Lin dropped to 0-6 and 0-2 in league play.

The MCC women will return to action in another key South Division showdown Friday night at Pearl River beginning at 5 p.m.

The MCC men completed the sweep of Co-Lin in the late game by a final score of 3-1 and it also marked the first win of the season for the Eagles.

Co-Lin carried a 1-0 lead into the second half in what was a very physical match between the two teams, but the Eagles would respond in a big way in the second half of play. MCC cracked the scoreboard with 29 minutes remaining in the match off of a goal by Jamison McKee to tie the game at 1-1.

MCC took its first lead of the game with 9:47 remaining on a goal by Tyler Germany to make the score 2-1 in favor of the green and white. The Eagles would put the game away for good as Lyle Daughtry would score on an assist by Germany to seal the 3-1 win for MCC. 

MCC improved to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in division play, while Co-Lin fell to 1-5 and 0-2 in division action.

The MCC men will return to action Friday afternoon with a road match at Pearl River beginning at 3 p.m.