From staff and special reports
LAUREL — The Northeast Jones Lady Tigers advanced to the second round of the state soccer playoffs here Tuesday night as they won a hard fought 2-0 match over Poplarville.
“I was very proud of our effort tonight. This was a physical game,” said NEJ coach Scott Tyson.
Morgan Pace scored a goal with 9:20 left in the first half to take a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Pace scored again with 11:50 left in the game to hand the Lady Tigers the victory.
“We came out here with butterflies tonight, but we kept our heads up,” said Pace who now has 100 goals in her career. “ This was a great team effort. I was just in the right place at the right time in this game tonight.”
The Lady Tigers had 12 shots on goal to the Hornets five.
“ I was very proud of Morgan Pace, but all of our girls do a great job out here,” said coach Tyson.
Northeast Jones (15-1), the division champions, will host Florence in a second round playoff game either Friday or Saturday. Florence was a winner over Lawrence County Tuesday night, 13-0.
It was the final game for Poplarville seniors Bre Martin, Karelia Schmitz, Megan Starke, Sarah Paschal and Morgan Head.
“These girls have put in four years of hard work for this team and will be missed,” Lady Hornets head coach Mandy Ladner said “
