Holmes, Northwest to battle for Region 23/Gulf South District Championship Saturday

RIDGELAND --- The Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs will face the Northwest Mississippi Community College Lady Rangers in the NJCAA Region 23/Gulf South District Tournament finals on Saturday at Jones College in Ellisville.

Holmes, now 15-3-2 on the season, defeated Pearl River, 4-0, on Thursday. Holmes is the No. 2 seed in the tournament while Pearl River was No. 3. Northwest, now 17-0, defeated Itawamba, 4-2, on Thursday. Northwest is the No. 1 seed while Itawamba was No. 4.

Holmes is ranked No. 5 in the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer poll while Northwest is No. 1.

The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Rangers faced each other on Oct. 11 in Ridgeland, and Northwest won 3-2.

Leaders for the Lady Bulldogs include: Kristen Phillips (West Lauderdale) with 53 points (21 goals, 11 assists), Bailee Fairley (West Lauderdale) with 37 points (14 goals, nine assists), Olivia Tribolet (Madison Central) with 21 points (eight goals, five assists), Kaylee Avant (Newton County) with 19 points (seven goals, five assists) and Brooklynn Samonski (Nottingham, N.J.) with 17 points (seven goals, three assists).

Addi Roberts (Jackson Academy) and Katie Smith (Clarkdale) split time in goal for the Lady Bulldogs. Roberts finished with 46 saves while Smith had 30.

Holmes scores 4.2 goals per match and gives up one goal per match.

Leaders for Northwest include: Emma Jensen (Gammelby, Germany) with 43 points (17 goals, nine assists), Caroline Hamm (Saltillo) with 25 points (12 goals, one assist), Mari Julia Delgado (Trinity, Ala.) with 24 (seven goals, 10 assists), and Penny Warner (Pearland, Texas) with 20 points (nine goals, two assists).

Anna Kathryn Harrell (Tupelo) and Ann Marie Barton (Desoto Central) both saw time in goal. Harrell finished with 43 saves while Barton finished with 11.  

Northwest scores 4.64 goals per match and gives up less than a goal per match.