ELLISVILLE – The 10^th-ranked Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats broke a 2-2 with two goals in the final eight minutes and defeated Pearl River 4-2 here Tuesday night at Bobcat Soccer Field in the regular season finale for both schools.
The Lady Bobcats are now 13-1 overall and end MACJC South Division play with a perfect 10-0 mark.
JCJC outscored its opponents 79-8 in the regular season and recorded 10 shutouts.
The Lady Bobcats will now play in the MACJC/Region 23 Tournament Oct. 29-30 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
It was a typical, hard-fought battle between the Lady Bobcats and Lady Wildcats.
JCJC took a 1-0 lead at 22:57 when Mary Kate Smith (South Jones) scored with Shannon Durkin (Barnsley, England) getting the assist.
Pearl River tied it a 1-1 at 36:55 on a Kira Morrell goal.
The Lady Bobcats went up 2-1 at 73:09 on a Durkin goal. Moments later, PRCC tied it at 2-2 when Morrell scored at 77:33.
Smith put JCJC up 3-2 with her second goal at 82:52. Reigning MACJC Offensive Player of the Week Ashleigh Lewis (London, England) gave Jones an insurance goal at 84:35.
Brittney Snyder (Biloxi) was in goal for Jones in the first half and Mia Holmes (Brandon) played the second half.
Pearl River ends the regular season at 8-6 overall and 6-4 in the division. The Lady Wildcats finish third in the division and will travel to play the North No. 2 team in a playoff game on Oct. 25.
Lady Bobcat Sophomore Night
It was Sophomore Night for JCJC and all 10 Lady Bobcat sophomores and two managers were recognized after the game.
The JCJC sophomores are Marcie Napier (Laurel Christian School), Mary Kate Smith (South Jones), Abbey Graham (West Jones), Rachel Martin (Oak Grove), Rylee Sullivan (Florence), Kelly Stubbington (London, England), Ashleigh Lewis (London, England), Mallori Rodrigue (Sacred Heart), Mattie Mills (South Pontotoc) and Brittney Snyder (Biloxi). Sophomore managers are Lydia Hinton and Abby Wilson.