ELLISVILLE – The No. 4 Jones College men's soccer team opened its conference slate with a 3-0 shutout victory over East Mississippi Monday night at home.
The Bobcats scored all three goals in the opening half and controlled the match throughout, improving to 7-0-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. They also finished with a 26-3 advantage in shots, putting 20 attempts on goal, while also holding a 12-0 edge in corner kicks.
FIRST HALF
The Bobcats struck early, taking the lead less than four minutes into the match.
Louie Fitzpatrick (Wigan, England; St. Peter's) set up fellow Brit, Harry Guess (Milton Keynes, England; Northampton Town FC)
at the 3:43 mark, who belted one out of the keeper's reach for his first goal of the season to put the Bobcats ahead 1-0.
Jones continued to generate chances throughout the half, forcing several saves before doubling the advantage in the 26th minute.
Calvin Harrison (Hernando) and Braden Buchanan (Madison; Madison Central) combined to set up Fitzpatrick, who bagged his fourth goal of the season to extend the lead 2-0.
The Bobcats struck again just 95 seconds later, this time through Mario Novaku (Wolverhampton, England; Codsall Community HS) who scored at the 26:56 mark for his second goal of the season to extend the lead 3-0.
Jones finished the opening 45 minutes with a 13-1 advantage in shots and earned all six first-half corner kicks.
SECOND HALF
While the scoring stopped after halftime, the Jones attack continued to apply pressure.
Stanley Georgiou (Ampthill, England; Pro:Direct Hitchin) and Guess both threatened early in the half before Harrison forced another save in the 55th minute.
East Mississippi (2-5-0, 0-1) generated its best opportunities of the match in the second half, but Logan Correro (Byhalia; Lewisburg) turned away both shots to preserve the shutout.
The Bobcats continued to create chances down the stretch, with Novaku, Fitzpatrick, Kinson Smith (Brandon; Northwest Rankin) and Guess each putting late efforts on frame.
Jones matched its first-half output with another 13 shots after the break and finished with 20 shots on goal.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats return to action Friday, Sept. 18 against Co-Lin in Wesson. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
