Holmes advances to state championship with win over Jones

RAYMOND --- The Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs picked up a 5-1 MACJC State Tournament semifinal win here today at Hinds Community College over Jones College moving them to the state title game tomorrow.

With the win, the Lady Bulldogs improved to 16-2 overall. Holmes will play Itawamba Community College at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the MACJC State Tournament finals at Hinds Community College. Itawamba defeated Pearl River in the day's first semifinal matchup, 2-0.

Tuesday's meeting will the third of the season between Holmes and Itawamba. Holmes won the contest at Freedom Ridge in Ridgeland, 4-2, and Itawamba won the contest at Fulton, 3-2.

In Monday's win for the Lady Bulldogs, freshman forward Cariel Ellis got the Lady Bulldogs on the scoreboard first in the third minute on an assist from freshman midfielder Mackenzie Thompson.

Thompson then increased the lead for the Lady Bulldogs to 2-0 after she nailed a penalty kick in the 15^th minute.

Ellis then got her second goal of the first half when she scored on another assist from Thompson in the 26^th minute. Holmes led 3-0 at halftime.

Jones got their only goal in the 75^th minute.

Ellis finished off her hat trick in the 78^th minute on an assist from sophomore defender Caseigh Hickman to put Holmes up 4-1.

Sophomore forward Zoe Ellis got Holmes' final goal in the 82^nd minute on an unassisted goal to end all scoring at 5-1.

Holmes finished the match with 18 shots on goal and 29 shots total. Cariel Ellis had nine shots and seven on goal for the Lady Bulldogs. Freshman goalkeeper Carly Williams finished with four saves in 90 minutes of play.

Photo by Tracy Duncan, Hinds CC