The Northwest Mississippi Community College men’s soccer team dropped two matches Sunday at the St. Louis Showcase, falling to Allen County Community College 5-2 on Friday and narrowly losing to Kansas City Kansas Community College 1-0 on Sunday, according to school officials.
Head Coach Windham Whatley said the competition was beneficial despite the setbacks. “It was much needed. To play quality opponents before we get into conference is what we scheduled that trip for, and I think there was a lot of learning and a lot of growing over the last 72 hours,” Whatley said.
In the first game, Northwest took an early lead with a stunning goal from freshman Joseph Jackson, who scored on a 30-yard free kick in the 16th minute. The Red Devils responded late in the first half, tying the game on a one-on-one finish by Tjay Gibb after a pass through the defense.
Allen County added three more goals in the second half, with Bernard Agbavor scoring twice, once on a deflected shot in the 46th minute and again in the 65th minute on a breakaway. The Rangers scored twice in the match, with Auden Sammons finishing a free kick by Leo Frank in the 72nd minute to cut the deficit to two. The game ended with a 5-2 score after ACCC added a late goal in the 88th minute.
Despite the loss, Northwest outshot Allen County 16-13, though they only managed six shots on target compared to eight for the Red Devils.
The second game saw the Rangers hold Kansas City Kansas to a 1-0 loss, with Cole Elbert scoring the winning goal on a breakaway in the 75th minute. Northwest outshot their opponents 14-12, and goalkeeper Tjay Gibb recorded eight saves but couldn’t prevent the late goal.
Following these games, Northwest’s record stands at 1-2-1 for the season. Whatley praised the team’s adaptability, noting improvements between games. “We changed some things from game one to game two, and they were able to receive that information and apply it,” he said.
The team will return home Tuesday for a match against Blue Mountain Christian University’s JV team, scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed live at nwccrangers.com/watch. Afterward, the Rangers will take a week off before traveling to face East Central College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Whatley emphasized the importance of rest after a demanding schedule, which includes five games in 12 days and eight since August 8.
Fans can follow Northwest Mississippi men’s soccer updates on their official website and social media channels.
