Division titles and playoff spots will be decided this week across the coast as the high school soccer regular season winds down. Biloxi (Division 8-6A,) Ocean Springs (Division 7-6), Long Beach (Division 8-5A) and Poplarville, (Division 7-4A have all clinched division titles on the boys’ side. Division champions on the girl’s side include Gulfport (Division 8-6A), West Harrison (Division 8-5A), Poplarville (Division 7-4) and St. Patrick in the Class 1A/2A/3A division.
Tuesday night’s schedule includes a couple of matchups determining the remaining titles. The matchup in Lucedale at Gill Martin Stadium between East Central and George County may be the biggest as both the boys’ and girls’ contests have championship implications. The boys’ matchup is winner-take-all as the Hornets and Rebels come into the match with identical 4-1 records. The Rebels defeated the Hornets 3-0 in Hurley back in December. Gautier has wrapped up the three seed in Division 7-5A and will begin the playoffs on the road.
The Lady Rebels enter their matchup with some wiggle room. George County wins the division with a win but could also take the title if they lose by 3 goals or less.
In Division 7-6A the Ocean Springs Lady Greyhounds head up to St. Martin with a similar advantage that George County enjoys. The Lady Hounds can take the division with an outright win or a loss by less than two goals as they defeated the Lady Yellow Jackets 2-0 in their first meeting. D’Iberville holds the inside track to the 3rd seed as they look to hold off Pascagoula.
In 8-4A Bay High will be the three seed but they host Stone on Tuesday night in a contest that has huge implications for the Lady Tomcats. Stone is tied with Pass Christian who should move to 5-1 with a win over Moss Point. A Stone win in the Bay will get the Lady Tomcats to 5-1 and take the division crown based on a plus-one goal difference over the Lady Pirates.
Resurrection is also looking to secure a berth in the 1A/2A/3A classification behind St. Patrick.
Outside of the East Central-George County matchup on the boys’ side, two other matchups Tuesday carry playoff implications. Following the girls’ contest in the Bay between the Lady Tigers and Stone the boys take to the pitch with similar implications. Both teams are 3-2, and a game behind Pass Christian.
- The Pirates should take care of Moss Point meaning the winner of Bay and Stone secures the 2 seed and a home playoff berth. If the Tigers upset Pass the winner of Bay and Stone still has a shot at the division title.
- In 6A Gulfport heads up highway 49 to take on Harrison Central who upset the Admirals 1-0 in their first meeting. The winner of this matchup secures a home playoff berth while the loser opens the playoffs on the road.
- In 1A/2A/3A, St. Stanislaus is looking to secure a playoff berth along with St. Patrick.
