[1/9/05]Vicksburg High girls soccer coach Kevin Manton shook his head Saturday afternoon trying to figure out his team.

The Missy Gators (7-7-2) had just defeated No. 13 West Lauderdale, 2-1, but he said it could have easily been worse.

“It should have been at least 5-0,” said Manton, whose team outshot the Lady Knights 15-3. “We are like a really big jigsaw puzzle. We have no center focus.”

Lucy Matthews and Miranda Hunt each scored a goal on Saturday against a West Lauderdale team that did not pressure the Missy Gators at all. Diara Gilliam and Daria Lawrence each had an assist.

“We don’t know what team is going to show up,” Manton said. “It’s like a description of today: cloudy and windy in the morning, sunny and brisk in the afternoon. It’s as different as night and day with us.”

Vicksburg will play three games this week before a showdown with Warren Central on Saturday. That game will likely be for the Division 6-5A championship and a home playoff game.

(B) VHS 2, W. Lauderdale 2

Matt Minyard and Josh Dixon each scored a goal in a tie with West Lauderdale.

Minyard’s goal in the first half enabled the Gators (7-7-1) to go into halftime with a 1-1 tie. After West Lauderdale scored in the second half, Dixon again tied the game with 15 minutes to play.

The Gators, who play four games next week, did not play on Friday even though the team drove to Callaway. Heavy rains and lightning blanketed the area causing the game’s postponement.

On Tuesday, Vicksburg took a step toward a playoff spot with a 4-0 win over Natchez. Eighth-grader Patrick Parker scored his first career goal, while Michael Cooper netted two goals and Miles Dunbar added a score.

The Gators are scheduled to play at St. Andrew’s on Tuesday, then play a makeup game against Murrah on Thursday.