SCOOBA, Miss. – The East Mississippi Community College women’s soccer team claimed its third consecutive victory with a 3-2 win over Jones County Friday night at the EMCC Soccer Field.  The Lions dropped a 5-1 decision to the Bobcats in the nightcap to close out East Mississippi’s home soccer slate.

Freshman Nikeisha Noel continued her stellar play by registering her second straight hat trick and fourth of the season.  The Trinidad & Tobago Under-20 National Team member tallied two first-half scores against the Lady Bobcats on assists from Quitman’s Erica Carter and Quashena Johnson of Starkville.  With the score deadlocked at 2-2, Noel intercepted a pass and headed downfield to net the game-winning goal with nine minutes remaining in the match.

With a team-high 15 goals on the season, Noel recently tallied three scores in home matches against Northwest Mississippi and Itawamba earlier this month.  She opened the season with a five-goal effort in EMCC’s 8-1 home triumph over East Central CC on Aug. 22.

In Friday’s nightcap against JCJC, the Lions faced an early 3-0 deficit and had their starting keeper, sophomore Aaron Jenkins of Columbus, get knocked out of the contest in the first half with a bruised sternum.  Freshman Leonardo Reyes of Trinidad managed the only score for EMCC with his team-high fourth goal coming in the second half on an assist by Quincy James.

Coach Junior Noel’s East Mississippi soccer teams will complete the current campaign with six consecutive road matches, beginning with non-divisional contests at Southwest Mississippi and East Central on Tuesday and Friday, respectively.  With their current three-match winning streak – all coming by identical 3-2 scores – the Lady Lions have raised their overall record to the .500 mark at 4-4 and 1-2 in North Division play.  The EMCC men’s team is 0-7-1 overall and 0-4 in division action.