RIDGELAND, Miss. — The Northwest Rankin Lady Cougars are back on top of the Mississippi soccer world.
It took some late game-heroics from senior Allie Sifford and junior Kate Gray Nesbit, but the Lady Cougars held on for a 2-1 win over the defending champion Clinton Arrows to clinch the 2024 MHSAA 7A soccer title Saturday night.
After a scoreless first half, Sifford broke the 0-0 tie with a goal from 18 yards out in the 65th minute. Tyler Grace Sims launched a perfect lob pass, and Sifford touched it once with her left foot past a diving Clinton keeper.
The second goal came just five minutes later. Sidneyclare Sing raced down the home sideline and sent a beautiful pass into the middle, just quick enough for Nesbit to squeeze off a shot between two Clinton defenders.
That goal sent the Northwest Rankin sideline into pandemonium with just 10 minutes left on the clock.
The celebration was short-lived, however, as Clinton’s Isabella Jones scorched home a goal moments later to trim the Northwest Rankin lead to 21.