Bulldogs storm back to defeat East Central

PERKINSTON – Mississippi Gulf Coast men's soccer coach Chris Handy takes pride in his Bulldogs' strong defensive play.

Unfortunately, that was nowhere to be found Tuesday night. Fortunately, though, there was enough offense to pull out a 5-3 comeback victory over East Central.

"We wanted to come in and mark well, but we didn't do that at all, all game long," he said. "But a win's a win, and we'll take that in this league, but we've got stuff to hash out over the next few days."

Defender Jordan Pardon scored the tying goal in the 63^rd minute, storming from the back.

"I played a one-two with James (Beattie)," Parron said. "James slipped me through and I finished it. When I see an opening and a gap, I just go. I attack. I think that's what coach likes me to do."

It was Beattie's first assist of two on the night to go along with his opening goal five minutes in off an assist from Parron.

Juan Salazar scored a controversial goal with 3:44 to play to give Gulf Coast (2-1) the lead. Matt Ross took a free kick and it wound up caroming to Salazar, whom the assistant referee flagged for offside.

The referee, however, overruled, saying Salazar was played onside by a defender's play.

"It was coming in my direction and I was just hoping for the best," Salazar said. "The kid, it bounced off his head, and I was right there and finished it. I just had a feeling about."

Beattie took a free kick in the 44^th minute that rattled off the crossbar, but Josh Palm sprinted in to knock in the rebound for the final margin.

East Central (2-3) erased their early deficit on a Freddy Gutierrez penalty kick in the 28^th minute, the surged to the lead with goals by Connor Brennan and Jacob Johnson.

Gio Freitas scored a huge goal a second before halftime, banging in Michael Graham's cross just before the horn to make it 3-2.