Bulldogs overcome heat, Southwest

PERKINSTON – It was a scorcher Saturday, a day so hot it took a toll on all the Mississippi Gulf Coast men's soccer players.

The Bulldogs gutted it out and got a 1-0 win over Southwest to close out the first round of MACJC play at 4-1.

"It was extremely hot," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "It was a bit of a trap game, the end of the first round. We'll take our three points and go on to the next game."

Gulf Coast (6-2) has a four-game win streak going as it heads on a two-day trip to North Division foes Itawamba and Northwest on Friday and Saturday.

The Bulldogs got the only goal of the game off a free kick. Matt Ross delivered a ball into the box in the 48^th minute that defender Josh Palm outfought two Southwest players and the keeper.

"It was a set piece, and I read all defenders well," he said. "I came in and did what I had to do to get up and over the defenders."

His first header was saved, but he nodded the second into the goal.

Southwest falls to 3-4-1, 2-3 MACJC South.