The East Central Community College Warriors snapped a five-match losing streak with a 5-2 soccer win over the visiting Northwest Rangers Friday, Oct. 5, at the Soccer Field on the ECCC campus in Decatur.
In the women's match, the Lady Warriors dropped a 3-2 decision to the Northwest Lady Rangers.
East Central got a hat trick from the MACJC North Division's leading scorer to defeat the Rangers. Sophomore midfielder Vitor Gomes from Fortaleza, Brazil, scored three goals to pace the Warriors in the 5-2 win.
Gomes now has 15 goals in 11 matches played this season.
Sophomore midfielder Francisco Romero from Ripley and freshman midfielder Terrell Johnson out of Jackson Murrah also tallied goals for the Warriors. Sophomore midfielder Chris Perez of Forest and freshman midfielder Elvis Rubio of Houston, Texas, had assists in the match.
With the win, East Central improved to 3-9 on the season and 3-3 in the MACJC North Division, while the Rangers fell to 2-8 overall and 1-4 in the division.
In the women's match, the Lady Warriors fell behind 2-0 before East Central freshman forward Olivia Crothers out of Northwest Rankin scored a goal as time expired in the first half to make the score 2-1. She was assisted by freshman forward Katelyn Morson of Warren Central in Vicksburg. Freshman forward Macey Spencer of Florence scored East Central's other goal in the second half, assisted by sophomore midfielder Noel Ross of Horn Lake.
The Lady Warriors fell to 4-9 overall with the loss and 1-4 in the North Division. The Northwest Lady Rangers improved to 4-7-1 and 2-3 in MACJC North Division play.
The East Central teams travel to Ridgeland to face Holmes at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9. The Warriors and Lady Warriors will play their final home matches of the season on Thursday, Oct. 11. The Lady Warriors will face Dyersburg State (Tenn.) at 1 p.m. and the Warriors will play Andrew College (Cuthbert, Ga.) at 3 p.m.
The regular season will conclude on Monday, Oct. 15, when the East Central teams will face Hinds at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Raymond.