PJC men’s soccer team wins by a penalty kick

Published or Revised October 29, 2012

The Paris Junior College Dragons soccer team pulled off an upset this weekend when they beat nationally-ranked San Jacinto College by a penalty kick. "I'm so proud of our guys," said PJC Soccer Coach Lance Noble. "They played their hearts out." At halftime neither team had scored. Then San Jacinto made a goal with about 10 minutes left to play. PJC tied and the game went into overtime. "I had them play defense on overtime," said Noble. "We had to make it to the shoot-off, where each team picks five players who shoot from 12 yards away. Each player kicks once against the goalkeeper, and we got four of our five while San Jacinto only got three." PJC will play at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, against Pearl River Community College at Tyler Junior College's Pat Hartley Field in Tyler, Texas. PRCC (another nationally ranked team) is located in Poplarville, Miss., with a record of 14-0. TJC plays Meridian Community College from Clinton, Miss., at 6 p.m. on Friday. Coach Noble explained that the winners from Friday will play each other on Saturday and that game's winner advances as one of eight teams competing in the final round of NJCAA's National Tournament. Next year, the rules will change and allow two teams from each region to advance so there will be 16 teams competing.