Four South MS soccer teams win state championships, with Stone High girls making history
Four Mississippi Coast teams left Jackson this weekend with brand new hardware after five schools represented the region in the finals for the second straight year.
The St. Stanislaus and Long Beach boy’s teams and Our Lady Academy and Stone High girls all won a soccer state championship, taking down some of the state’s most talented teams, behind heroic performances from Coast athletes.
Long Beach makes it two in a row
The Bearcat boys claimed another 5A state title with a resounding 4-1 win over New Hope. The win follows up last year’s first soccer championship in school history.
New Hope scored first in the match but it was all Long Beach the rest of the way. Ethan Meyers tied the game before Landon Vancourt scored and assisted on the next two goals.
Dylan Kippes scored the final goal of the match and would go on to earn the game’s MVP honors.
“The kids have worked real hard and to get here five years in a row,” Long Beach coach Andee Wilburn told Scorebooklive.com. “It’s extremely difficult and going through and getting back to back is huge. Every year is a new team and new kids, so they have a mind set to get it done and I’m proud of them for that.”
Long Beach wrapped up the season with a 17-2-1 record.
Three-peat for the Rock-A-Chaws
St. Stanislaus boys outlasted St. Andrew’s in a defensive battle that ended in a 1-0 Rock-A-Chaws win in the Class I championship game.
Christian Bourgeois scored in the first minute of the match and that slim lead held firm the rest of the way. Bourgeois earned MVP honors in the game.
“Our defense stayed very, very organized and disciplined,” St. Stanislaus coach Zach Villarrubia told Scorebooklive.com. “I do wish we had stayed more aggressive after the quick goal, but our plan was to come out early, press the front line and put pressure on them right out of the gate.”
St. Stanislaus has now won three consecutive championships and won this one with a 16-4-1 season.
Our Lady Academy returns to glory
It’s been 10 years since the last time the Crescents earned a soccer championship, but the drought ended Saturday with a thrilling penalty-kick victory over St. Andrew’s in the Class I title game.
MVP Kennedy Leverett scored OLA’s only regulation goal and played hero in the penalty kicks. After both squads made their first four kicks each, Leverett sunk the fifth for the Crescents and goalkeeper Alexis Ladner swatted away St. Andrew’s final attempt.
“It was just one of those games that could have gone either way right up until the end,” Our Lady Academy coach Caroline Grieves told Scorebooklive.com. “We knew we would have to earn it against a team as good as St. Andrew’s. We haven’t played too many teams of their caliber and I wasn’t sure how we would respond, but I was proud of the girls and the way they approached the challenge.”
Our Lady Academy finished the year with a 12-5-2 record.
Stone girls go down in history
The Lady Tomcats became the first girl’s team in school history to win a state title with a 4-0 win over New Albany in the 4A title game.
It was a balanced attack for Stone as four different girls found the back of the net. Morgan Pickering earned the MVP honor for scoring once and assisting on another goal.
Twins Caroline and Mary Grace Batson each scored while Baelynn Smith got in on the action with a goal of her own.
“Our girls were ready, were excited and dominated the game,” Stone coach Carissa Harrison told Scorebooklive.com. “When the fourth goal went in, I knew we were state champs and it’s real. It’s a great experience and an amazing feeling.”
The Tomcats finished the year at 16-6-1
Other scores
Class 4A boys - Richland 2, Bay High 0
