The Northwest Mississippi Community College men’s soccer team improved to 3-1 in conference play after defeating Holmes Community College 2-1 at home, their best start since 2008, according to school officials.
Northwest’s head coach Windham Whatley credited their resilience, noting Holmes presented a tough challenge. “Taking three points when you don’t necessarily play well is a good thing,” Whatley said.
The Rangers opened the scoring just before halftime on a corner kick. Joseph Jackson’s cross found Jairo Mendez, who tapped in the shot to give Northwest a 1-0 lead at the break.
Early in the second half, Holmes equalized on a rebound shot from Mouhamed Thiam, leveling the score at 1. Despite multiple attempts from both sides, neither team could find the net again until the 78th minute. A misplayed ball into the box was headed in by Lian Noll, putting Northwest ahead 2-1. The Rangers maintained pressure for the final 12 minutes and held on for the win.
The victory allows Northwest to avoid a second straight loss and puts them in a tie for third place in the MACCC standings alongside Meridian Community College. They also gained a crucial three-point lead over teams with 2-2 records, including Hinds, Mississippi Gulf Coast, and East Mississippi.
Looking ahead, the team will take a break before hosting Gulf Coast on Friday. That match will be the first time head coach Whatley faces his former team and will serve as an opportunity to strengthen their position in the conference race.
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. after the women’s contest at 5 p.m., and will be streamed on Ranger TV, with a pregame show five minutes prior. Fans can follow updates at nwccrangers.com or through the school’s social media channels.
