Alex Henley of Warren Central slips in the mud as Vicksburg’s Haley Nosser goes for the ball Tuesday at WC. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[01/17/01] The Vicksburg Missy Gators notched a win over crosstown rival Warren Central Tuesday night, but lost a pair of key players in the process.

Freshman Brandi Parker, who has 30 goals this season, dislocated both kneecaps in a head-on collision with WC goalie Courtney Hubert in the first half of the Missy Gators’ 1-0 win, and junior Neely Nasif was taken from Viking Stadium on a stretcher after she slipped and hit her head on the muddy field, then was accidently kicked by a WC player.

VHS coach Kevin Manton said Wednesday morning that both players were expected back for Tuesday’s division game against Clinton.

“Neely’s a three-year starter and Brandi’s a two-year starter. We’re satisfied with the win and everything, but you come out of it with two starters questionable for next week,” VHS coach Kevin Manton said. “Luckily we were able to do enough and hold them off for a 1-0 win.”

The Missy Gators (13-3, 1-0), who also beat WC (9-7-1, 0-1 Division 3-5A) in December, took the upper hand in the division race.

The collision between Parker and Hubert came with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the first half and led to the game’s only goal.

As Parker dribbled up the field, Hubert came out to challenge her about 20 yards from the goal. The two collided, and the ball squirted off to the right, where VHS’ Michelle Beatty gathered it in and kicked it into the open net. Parker was credited with an assist on the play.

“It was a 50-50 ball and we both hit hard. The ball popped out and they just got it. One of their players got it before ours did,” said Hubert, who made 16 saves.

Both Hubert and Parker were down for several minutes after the collision. Hubert got up under her own power and stayed in the game, but Parker was helped from the field.

“When (Parker) didn’t get up, I knew something was wrong. Normally even if she’s badly hurt, she’s going to get up,” Manton said.

The messy field conditions there was standing water in several places from Tuesday’s all-day rain and an aggressive Missy Gator squad made sure the lead held up.

VHS outshot WC 17-7, and the mud and muck of the field kept the Lady Vikes from generating many scoring chances.

“They were playing like they wanted it, we just couldn’t get any kind of passing game going because I’m sure you saw, the ball just was not going anywhere,” WC coach Holly Lane said. “It really could have gone either way, I thought, but it just wasn’t our night.”

The game was played on the messy field because of both teams’ crowded schedules. VHS has three games scheduled next week, including the one with Clinton to decide the division championship, while WC has a game with Clinton on Friday.

“We were just about in a situation where we had to play,” Manton said.