ELLISVILLE, Miss. — East Central Community College men's soccer went toe-to-toe with one of the nation's best on Friday night, falling 1-0 to No. 9 Jones College in a hard-fought MACCC road matchup at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.

The Warriors (now 5-4 overall, 3-2 in conference) held their own against the nationally ranked Bobcats, keeping the game within striking distance from start to finish. The lone goal came in the 15th minute when Jones' Matt Reed capitalized off an assist from Mario Novaku to put the hosts on the board.

From there, East Central's defense locked in, holding Jones scoreless over the final 75 minutes. The Warriors' keeper unit recorded seven total saves, including several key stops that kept the Bobcats from extending their lead despite a 20-shot barrage.

ECCC earned six corner kicks in the match—four in the second half—as the Warriors continued to apply late pressure in search of the equalizer. However, the Jones back line held firm, keeping East Central off the board.

Physical play highlighted the intensity of the matchup, with both teams drawing two yellow cards apiece. Despite being outshot, the Warriors' defensive organization and resilience stood out, showing the ability to hang with one of the top-ranked programs in the NJCAA.

The narrow defeat serves as a strong measuring stick for East Central as the team continues to push toward postseason form under head coach Ryan Joiner.

East Central returns to action on Tuesday, October 7, when the Warriors host Northwest Mississippi Community College at 8 p.m. in Decatur.