5 Coast soccer teams advance to title round as SSC, Ocean Springs keep up tradition
Jackson Thriffiley wanted to continue the tradition.
The senior forward scored two goals to help lift the Rockachaws past Florence 3-1 in the MHSAA Boys Class 4A South State title game on Tuesday night at Brandon’s Bulldog Stadium.
St. Stanislaus (17-5-1) will face Newton County for the Class 4A State Championship at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Brandon. This is the fifth time in the last seven years the Rockachaws will play for a state title.
“We executed our game plan perfectly in the first half in how we wanted to attack and defend and got up 2-0,” said St. Stanislaus coach Zach Villarubia. “We let them back in the game with a goal and then was able to get the last one in to seal it. It wasn’t pretty but we defended well enough to win.”
St. Stanislaus took an early 1-0 lead off a free kick from Christian Bourgeois in the 19th minute of the first half.
Seven minutes later, Thriffiley would score his first on a header that just got over the hands of the Florence goalkeeper to extend the lead to 2-0.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Florence cut the lead to 2-1 on a penalty kick by Korey Reeves.
With 11 minutes to go, Thriffiley broke through three defenders and scored on a shot that went into the far side of the net to extend St. Stanislaus’ lead to 3-1.
“Jackson is one of my captains and is an absolute workhorse,” Villarubia said. “He makes things happen just based off how hard he works.”
Thriffiley wants to keep the family tradition of winning a state title.
“We knew coming in we had to play well in certain spaces at times and we did tonight. Defense played so well tonight,” Thriffiley said. “My older brother was apart of the team that won three in a row here and we know the style of winning and we play with determination to keep it going.”
The Eagles finish the season 18-6.
BOYS
Ocean Springs 2, Northwest Rankin 1: Aiden Knight and Adam Walker each scored score a goal piece as the Greyhounds got past the previously unbeaten Cougars in the 6A South State Championship game.
Ocean Springs (17-4-2) will face Madison Central for the MHSAA Class 6A State Championship at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Ridgeland.
“Our dream all year is get back to the state championship game and our guys created opportunities and executed the game plan,” Ocean Springs coach Jeff French said. “When Adam Walker hit the game winner it was one of the prettiest goals I have ever seen. The ball bounced perfectly off his foot and went in the back in of the net.
“This will be our seventh state title game and the fifth time to play Madison. So, they have our number and it’ll be a heckuva game like always with them. They have a great team.
Long Beach 2, Laurel 0: Joshua Bonds and Noah Shockley both scored goals to lift the Bearcats over the Golden Tornadoes in the MHSAA Class 5A South State Championship.
Long Beach (14-2-3) will face Center Hill for the Class 5A State Championship at 6 p.m. on Saturday night at Brandon.
The Bearcats are back in the 5A state title game for third year in a row.
GIRLS
Gulfport 1, Brandon 0: Kayley Holloway scored the game’s only goal four minutes into the second half to lead the Lady Admirals past the Lady Bulldogs in MHSAA Class 6A Soccer South State Championship.
Gulfport (20-0-4) will face Clinton for the Class 6A State Championship at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Ridgeland.
East Central 2, Long Beach 1: Ella Golson scored the go ahead goal off an assist from Katie Havard to give the Lady Hornets the win over the Lady Bearcats in the MHSAA Girls Class 5A South State Championship.
East Central (15-2-3) will face defending champion Lafayette for the Class 5A State Championship at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Brandon.
Ella Golson had the first goal for the Lady Hornets, who are making their first trip to state title game since 2007.
Alex Segura had the only goal for Long Beach (11-8-1).
Florence 2, Vancleave 0: Christina Guzman scored two first half goals as the Lady Eagles got past the Lady Bulldogs in the MHSAA Class 4A South State Championship game.
For the third year in a row, Florence (18-3-4) will face West Lauderdale for the 4A state championship.
Vancleave finished the season 17-4-2 and was in the South State title game for the first time in school history.
Sacred Heart 2, OLA 1 (OT): The Lady Crescents fell to the Lady Crusaders in overtime in the Class 1A/2A/3A South State title game.
Sacred Heart will face St. Andrew’s for the second year in a row for the 1A/2A/3A state title on Saturday at Noon at Ridgeland
Aubrey Wawrek scored OLA’s only goal off a corner kick in the second half. The Lady Crescents finished the season 16-4-2.