STARKVILLE — Starkville High School boys soccer coach Brian Bennett busted into a big smile after his team’s second goal Tuesday night.
That’s when the Yellow Jackets knew they were on their way to a victory in the opening-round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A playoffs.
Starkville scored a pair of goals in each half to earn a 4-0 victory against Center Hill at Yellow Jacket Stadium.
The Starkville High girls won a postseason match for the first time in four years with a 3-0 victory against Center Hill.
Both Starkville squads will travel to Oxford for second-round matches Saturday. Game times will be set today.
“It was a little bit of a lop-sided match,” Starkville senior keeper Addison Watson said. “We really showed out tonight. We play our style of soccer, instead of kickball. Hopefully, we can go to Oxford and pull out the same kind of victory.”
Watson appeared to hold a private meeting on the field. The Mustangs had only five shots on goal. The final one resulting in a nifty behind-the-back acrobatic stab with about 10 minutes left that preserved the shutout.
“We are at our best when we can take the pressure off Addison,” Starkville senior center midfielder Kase Kingery said. “Addison had very few shots at him tonight. Some of them came because of a lack of focus coming out at halftime. In the first half, our ball movement was excellent and we really dominated.”
After a quiet first 15 minutes, the Yellow Jackets (11-3) moved into the attack and dominated the final stretches of the opening half. Taylor Wise and Price Day both missed close-range shots before Juan Salazar started the scoring with 21 minutes left in the half.
After a dominating stretch on offense, Kingery found the range with about a 10-foot shot with 14 minutes left before halftime.
“I let out a big sigh after that score,” Bennett said. “I felt like we were doing a great job of possession. However, you don’t feel really good until you see the score. A two-goal lead is much better than a one-goal lead, so I felt good at that point.”
Early second half, the Mustangs had a brief flurry but failed to covert on a nifty crossing shot and on a corner kick. Starkville righted the ship with a quick attack and goal by Wise with 21 minutes remaining.
Day scored with about two minutes left to close the scoring.
“When you have four guys score, you know you are doing what you are supposed to do on offense,” Kingery said. “It was great the way we played together as a team. It was the best team effort since I have been here. We were doing a lot of things right and getting a lot of people on the attack.”
Bennett believes his team is jelling after some early season adversity. The teamwork and cohesion will be necessary Saturday if Starkville is to avenge a 2-0 regular-season loss to Oxford.
“The more games we play together as a team, the better we continue to play,” Bennett said. “I thought our first half tonight was excellent. The kids will be really ready to go Saturday. We were flat the night before (the regular-season loss to Oxford) and it carried it over into that match.
“However, this time I think our kids will go up there with a chip on their shoulders and play much better.”
Oxford (13-2-3) opened its postseason with a 3-1 win against Callaway. The Chargers broke a 1-1 halftime tie and allowed only four shots on goal.
In the opener, the Starkville High players credited Friday night’s district-clinching 3-0 win against New Hope as being a huge motivator that helped the Lady Jackets win a home playoff match for the first time.
“I knew this was a big game for everybody tonight,” Starkville junior Carolina Berryhill said. “The seniors knew this might be their last game. However, after Friday, there was a feeling we could do this. We always remember (former Starkville High football player) Devin (Mitchell) in times like this. We play for him.”
The Lady Jackets have dedicated their postseason run to the memory of Mitchell, who was shot and killed in the early hours of New Year’s Day. After being knocked out in the first round in each of the past three seasons, the Lady Jackets move on for the first time since 2008.
“It is nice to advance,” Starkville coach Anna Albritton said. “I wish we could have played better. We did not play as a connected team, like we did last Friday. I think some of the players were tired because last week was such a demanding week.
“We are excited about winning and playing again. However, we know we have to play better in the next round to advance.”
Berryhill, a center midfielder, set the tone with three goals. The first came with less than 15 minutes left in the first half and created a 1-0 halftime advantage.
“Any team can come back from down one goal,” Berryhill said. “That is why the second goal was so big. Once you score one goal, you are more than likely to score two. We did a better job of attacking in the second half.”
Berryhill scored two goals less than two minutes apart midway through the second half. Each came on crossing shots from about 20 feet out.
“The second goal gave us a really big lift,” Albritton said. “In playoff soccer, a two-goal lead is a big advantage. You could tell we were really motivated after Carolina’s second score. It also deflated them a little bit.”
Starkville (11-4-1) held the better of the attack for most of the second half. Once the teams had separation, it was up to the Starkville’s defense to post a second straight shutout and close the deal.
“Our defense was so excellent, it was really good,” Berryhill said. “It is really hard for teams to get by us. Our offense was good, too. However, offensively, the job is easy, when you know the defense is going to back you up.”
Seventh-grader Camryn Dawkins posted the shutout in goal. Albritton credited seniors Christine Mazzolla and Jennifer Henderson for anchoring a defense that has been among the state’s best this season.
“We are going to miss Christine and Jenn dearly,” Albritton said. “We are grooming three or four girls to be their replacements.”
Oxford (9-8) advanced with an 8-0 home win against Callaway on Tuesday night. The Lady Chargers didn’t allow a shot on goal.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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