ICC soccer splits North Division doubleheader at Holmes

Luan Balestieri (Rio Grande, Brazil) scored a goal and added an assist in Itawamba Community College's 3-1 win over Holmes Community College on Friday. (Nina Strother/ICCImages.com)
Luan Balestieri (Rio Grande, Brazil) scored a goal and added an assist in Itawamba Community College's 3-1 win over Holmes Community College on Friday. (Nina Strother/ICCImages.com)
Posted: Sep 18, 2017


Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

RIDGELAND, Miss. – The Itawamba Community College soccer teams split a MACJC North Division doubleheader at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland against Holmes Community College on Friday. 

The Indians picked up a 3-1 win in the nightcap after the Lady Indians dropped a 3-1 decision. 

The Bulldogs (1-4-0, 1-3-1 MACJC North) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a goal by Jacob McNeely in the closing moments of the first half. The Indians (3-2-1, 2-0-1 MACJC North) answered when Luan Balestieri (Rio Grande, Brazil) found Chase Huddleston (Tupelo) for the equalizer in the 52nd minute. 

Balestieri put the Indians on top, 2-1, on a free kick in the 86th minute before a goal by Alexis Resendiz (Horn Lake) off an assist from Colby Bogle (Tupelo) put the game away in the 89th minute. 

Bradon White (Tupelo) went the distance in net for the Indians, allowing one goal and collecting three saves in the win. 

The Indians moved into first place in the North after East Central Community College dropped a 5-1 decision at Hinds Community College on Tuesday. 

The Lady Indians (4-3-0, 2-1-0 MACJC North) dropped a 3-1 decision to the Lady Bulldogs (6-0-0, 4-0-0 MACJC North) in the first match of the evening. 

Deanna Christie (Liverpool, England) gave the Lady Indians an early 1-0 lead off an assist from Cynthia Betancourt (New Albany). Holmes tied the match with a goal by Madison Deslatte and took a 2-1 lead into the break on a Kendal Walsh goal in the 38th minute. Brooke Burrell gave the Lady Bulldogs a two-goal lead in the 89th minute to remain unbeaten on the season. 

The Lady Indians moved into a tie for second place in the North with Northwest Mississippi Community College. 

ICC was scheduled to play Northwest on Tuesday, but the match was rescheduled to Monday, September 25 at 2:00 and 4:00 due to unfavorable playing conditions after Tropical Storm Irma moved the area earlier in the week. 

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