POPLARVILLE, Miss. — A nearly impossible streak was extended Friday night as the No. 8 Pearl River men's soccer team grinded out a 3–2 victory over Copiah-Lincoln to advance to the Gulf South District Semifinals for a ninth consecutive season.
"There's been pressure in every game we've played this season," head coach Drew Gallant said. "We built our schedule to be tough and create that pressure and adversity from the jump. We just have to continue taking things one match at a time and try to keep it rolling."
No. 2-seed Pearl River will move on to Wednesday's Region 23 Semifinal match against No. 3-seed Hinds at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland, Miss. The match will get underway at 11 a.m.
The Wildcats (12-4-1 overall) wasted little time jumping in front, striking for the first time in the 15th minute. Tycho van Haaren (Doetinchem, Netherlands) spotted a run from fellow Dutchman Julian van Rijsdam (Badhoevedorp, Netherlands) and delivered a perfect lofted long ball over the top. Van Rijsdam took an incredible first touch and chipped the Copiah-Lincoln (8-6-2) goalkeeper to make it 1–0.
Just three minutes later, the Wolves found the equalizer after Pearl River was whistled for a handball inside the box. CLCC promptly converted the penalty kick to even things at 1–1, where the score remained until halftime.
The second half opened with a flurry of chances by each side. In the 55th minute, Cameron Kent (Brandon) made a crucial punch to clear a dangerous ball, but the rebound fell to Copiah-Lincoln, whose follow-up strike rattled the crossbar.
Moments later, Pearl River began to tilt the momentum. A shot from Oren Doxey (Gulfport; St. Stanislaus) was blocked and deflected out for a corner, and van Rijsdam nearly put PRCC ahead again in the 59th minute when his attempt was stopped by a diving center back.
PRCC's persistence finally paid off in the 65th minute. Van Haaren picked up the ball on the left wing, weaved through multiple defenders, and chipped a shot over the goalkeeper to make the score 2–1.
"When I started dribbling, I looked up and everyone was focusing on the other players," van Haaren said. "I just decided to go for it."
Arthur Thygesen (Aarhus, Denmark) added PRCC's third goal in the 80th minute. Doxey slid a perfect ball across the box, setting up a first-touch, left-footed shot for Thygesen to extend the lead to 3–1. It was Thygesen's first goal of his collegiate career.
The Wolves got one back in the 87th minute, cutting the deficit to one goal, 3–2. The scoreline held there as PRCC secured a big victory.
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