ELLISVILLE – The No. 5 Jones College men's soccer team used a four-goal second half to pull away from Southwest for a 5-1 victory at home.

The Bobcats grabbed an early advantage and carried a one-goal lead into halftime before breaking the match open with three goals in a four-minute stretch early in the second half. Jones later answered Southwest's lone goal almost immediately to put the finishing touch on the victory. 

FIRST HALF

Jones (10-0-1 overall, 4-0) needed just three minutes to get on the board.

After earning consecutive corner kicks, Mario Novaku Wolverhampton, England; Codsall Community HS) delivered the second into the box and Essa Jadama (Kent, England; The Abbey School) connected with a header to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.

The Bobcats continued to threaten as the half progressed. Calvin Harrison (Hernando) nearly doubled the advantage in the 18th minute when his effort struck the post.

Three minutes later, Stanley Georgiou (Ampthill, England; Pro:Direct Hitchin) put another attempt on target, but the Southwest (5-5, 0-4) goalkeeper made the save to keep the margin at one heading toward halftime. 

Jones carried the 1-0 advantage into the break.

SECOND HALF

The Bobcats broke the match open almost immediately after halftime.

In the 53rd minute, Novaku played Louie Fitzpatrick (Wigan, England; St. Peter's) through the Southwest defense, who promptly blasted the ball across the goal into the bottom corner to double the lead 2-0.

Jones struck again a minute later when Rob Bradley played a ball across the box for Braden Buchanan (Madison; Madison Central) that a Bear defender tried to clear but instead sent into the back of the net for an own goal, stretching the advantage to 3-0 in favor of the Bobcats.

The surge continued in the 56th minute when Georgiou converted from the penalty spot, giving the Bobcats three goals in a span of just four minutes and a 4-0 lead.

Fitzpatrick nearly added his second in the 60th minute, rattling an effort off the crossbar.

Southwest eventually broke through with approximately 15 minutes remaining to cut the Jones advantage to 4-1, but the Bobcats answered almost immediately. 

A minute later, Sam Rogers (Lucedale; George County) collected a loose ball inside the box and fired it in off the post to restore the four-goal cushion at 5-1.

Jones nearly added another in the closing minutes when Lyle Hardisty (Northallerton, England; Middlesbrough) struck the post with four minutes remaining, but the 5-1 score held through the final whistle. 

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