RIDGELAND – Joshua Goodwin's save in the eighth round of penalty kicks lifted Jones to a fourth NJCAA Region 23 Championship in program history, 1-1 (8-7 PK), over Hinds Friday afternoon at Freedom Ridge Park. 

Tied 1-1 through 110 minutes, the match would be determined by penalty kicks.

After both teams hit each of their first five penalty kicks, it would go to sudden death. In the eighth round, Mario Novaku connected on his PK and then Goodwin's save helped Jones win, 8-7.

Novaku gave Jones a 1-0 lead with 3:54 left in the opening half when he cleaned up Matt Reed's header off the post and scored. 

Hinds tied the match 1:05 into the second half off a Diego Ortiz goal and it would stay that way the ensuing 62 minutes.

Hinds' Jedin Lee picked up a second yellow in the 78th minute and the Eagles played a man down the final 12 minutes of regulation and 20 overtime minutes.

Jones' best chance to win it came with five seconds left in double overtime when Reed hit the crossbar on a free kick just outside the box.

Goodwin had three saves the final 65 minutes. Brax Rials had four in the opening half.

Jones, 15-3-2, completed the trifecta winning the MACCC, Region 23 and Gulf South District Championships.

Snubbed the last two seasons for a national tournament berth, there will be no hoping this year. The Bobcats are in to the tournament for the third time in program history and first since 2022.

The NJCAA DII Men's Soccer Championship bracket, at-large selections and tournament seeding will be announced on Tuesday, November 11 at 5:30 CST via the NJCAA Network and NJCAA Soccer X account.