ELLISVILLE – Despite dropping its regular season finale Tuesday night against Holmes, 3-2, Jones has clinched the No. 1 seed and hosting rights in next week's NJCAA Region 23/Gulf South District Tournament.

Jones, Holmes and Northwest all finished with identical 10-1 MACCC records to share the league title, but by virtue of goal differential, Jones is the top team in the state.

Jones (13-1) looked to strike first in Tuesday's highly-anticipated match, but Gemma Whitchurch's shot from inside the box missed high in the 2nd minute.

Fifty-two seconds later, Holmes (17-1) capitalized on its first opportunity setup by Brianna Lopez and Kristen Phillips gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the 3rd minute. 

Two more great chances by Jones in the 13th and 18th minutes sailed wide left and wide right from Celine Ottah and Hilary Jaén by a matter of inches. Ottah then hit the post twice in the 28th and 36th minutes. 

KK Morris extended the Holmes lead to 2-0 in the 38th minute off a corner kick.

The Bobcats cut the deficit to 2-1 just before half, with Ottah using a flick in by Josie Duncan and header from Jaén to score the goal.

Phillips struck again for Holmes in the 57th minute to stretch the lead back to 3-1, taking the rebound off a save from Jona Hennings and scoring.

Ottah got Jones back within 3-2 with her 15th goal with under five minutes to play but that's how the match would end.

Jones outshot Holmes 20-12 and held a slight 8-7 edge on goal. Fouls were 13-8 Holmes and there were three cards.

The Bobcats get a bye in the opening round of the Gulf South District Tournament and will play on Friday, Nov. 3 against a TBD opponent in Ellisville.