Lady Bulldogs face Lady Rangers in NJCAA semifinals Thursday

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- The Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs will make their fourth appearance in the Division II Women's NJCAA National Tournament semifinals here Thursday at 10 a.m. versus the Northwest Mississippi Community College Lady Rangers.

Holmes, now 17-4-2 on the season, defeated Phoenix Sunday, 3-1, and Schoolcraft, 3-1, on Monday to advance to the semifinals. Northwest, 20-0, won 2-1 over Scottsdale Sunday and St. Charles, 1-0, in overtime Tuesday. 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. The Lady Bulldogs fell 4-1 to the Lady Rangers in the Region 23/Gulf South District finals at Jones a few weeks ago. 

Leaders for the Lady Bulldogs include: Kristen Phillips (West Lauderdale) with 56 points (22 goals, 12 assists), Bailee Fairley (West Lauderdale) with 42 points (16 goals, 10 assists), Olivia Tribolet (Madison Central) with 25 points (10 goals, five assists), Kaylee Avant (Newton County) with 21 points (eight goals, five assists), Brooklynn Samonski (Nottingham, N.J.) with 17 points (seven goals, three assists) and Christina Guzman (Florence) with 16 points (two goals, 12 assists).

Addi Roberts (Jackson Academy) and Katie Smith (Clarkdale) split time in goal for the Lady Bulldogs. Roberts finished with 59 saves while Smith had 34.

Holmes scores 3.96 goals per match and gives up one goal per match.

Leaders for Northwest include: Emma Jensen (Gammelby, Germany) with 51 points (21 goals, nine assists), Penny Warner (Pearland, Texas) with 27 points (12 goals, three assists) and Caroline Hamm (Saltillo) with 25 points (12 goals, one assist), Mari Julia Delgado (Trinity, Ala.) with 25 (seven goals, 11 assists). 

Anna Kathryn Harrell (Tupelo) and Ann Marie Barton (Desoto Central) both saw time in goal. Harrell finished with 59 saves while Barton finished with 11.  

Northwest scores 4.3 goals per match and gives up less than a goal per match.