[12/3/03]It took all of 43 seconds for the Vicksburg Missy Gators to score enough goals to beat Murrah on Tuesday night.

Holly Head’s first goal she scored three on her birthday seconds into the game opened the floodgates for an 18-0 VHS stomping of the Lady Mustangs.

Vicksburg led 12-0 at halftime, outshot Murrah 39-0, and did not allow a Lady Mustang within 25 yards of the goal.

“They beat Forest Hill 12-0,” Vicksburg coach Kevin Manton said of Murrah. “There was a lot of unselfish play. It could have been more, but some of our players took it upon themselves to make sure some others scored.”

Brandi Parker scored four goals to lead VHS’ onlslaught, while Caitlyn Riley joined Head with a hat trick.

Keri McGowan, Beverly Simmons and Lucy Matthews each scored two goals, and Crystal Davidson and Lucy Matthews scored once.

The game got so out of hand in the second half that Murrah players began cheering when they would clear a ball from their own scoring zone, and when they kicked the ball out of bounds.

The six-goal second half was highlighted by a Head penalty kick that gave VHS a 15-0 lead and gave her the hat trick.

The game was a warmup for this weekend’s Vicksburg-Warren Central Soccer Classic. The Missy Gators will play Hattiesburg on Friday night, then most likely Meridian on Saturday morning.

With two wins, VHS will play for the championship at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Warren Central.

(G) Ridgeland 9, St. Al 0

It was another tough night for the St. Aloysius girls soccer team.

Ridgeland (5-2-1) penetrated the Lady Flashes’ defense for six first-half goals and cruised to an easy victory.

Rachel Givan notched a hat-trick for the Lady Titans, with three goals in a span of 10 minutes to quickly put the game out of reach.

It was not until midway through the second half that the Lady Flashes (3-4) got deep enough into the Ridgeland defense to attempt a shot. Ridgeland outshot St. Al 21-4.

Marissa Leonard scored the game’s first goal with a shot over St. Al goalie Lindsay Hall’s head. Casey Allen then booted in a shot on a penalty kick for a 2-0 lead with 32 minutes remaining in the first half.

Givan then added her three scores, followed by Ashley McQuirk’s goal for a 6-0 halftime lead.

Ridgeland’s Becca MacNeill nearly had her own hat trick, but she missed a header and settled for two goals in the second half. Jackie Dintaman notched the final score.

“They’re learning from playing these tougher teams,” St. Al coach Karen Carroll said. “They’re getting more aggressive on the ball.”

Carroll said she can see improvement in her fledgling program, despite the tough loss.

“They’re getting better,” she said. “They’re getting better in their tactics. They’re going to have to work on their technique. That’s going to come from playing out in the rec programs and clubs.

“It’s just experience.”

(B) Ridgeland 3, St. Al 1

St. Aloysius rallied after leading scorer Michael Head was ejected 15 minutes into the game, but still succumbed to Ridgeland.

Ridgeland outshot St. Al 12-10, and goal keeper Patrick Karel kept the Flashes (3-4) in the game by making eight saves. Adam Fulcher cut a 2-0 deficit in half with a penalty kick goal in the second half, but Ridgeland sealed the game with a late goal.

“The second half we were right there and just couldn’t score,” St. Al coach Carlos Lee said.