Southern States SC Finishes Strong in U-19 Pilot

By 3S Media

The Stars U-19 team completed a three-game winning series over Port City U-19 with a 3-0 road victory at PRCC in Poplarville last night.  Coach Carl Reynolds’ team finished the season 8-1 and on top of the table during the spring NPSL U-19 pilot.

The Stars took a single goal lead into the break on a Papi Diouf penalty kick as the Gulfport-based Port City fought hard to control the visitors’ offense.  This was the third meeting between the two sides with the Stars emerging victorious in the other two games, winning 4-0 and 6-0.  In the previous games, the Stars had taken early leads but on this occasion, Port City managed to stave off the Stars until the conceding of that 40th-minute penalty kick.

The second half was the most even of the three games.  Port City managed more shots and worked Stars goalkeeper Ethan Crump more than in the other three games combined.  The youngster was equal to all that Port City could muster and prevailed in protecting his net and taking the third shutout against Port City.

Finding it hard to score and committed to attacking it was somewhat inevitable that the Stars would find more goals as the game moved into its final minutes.  Attila Sepkin fired home a superb blockbuster of a shot for the Stars’ second goal, while Diouf tapped home a close-range third goal after a swift Stars counterattack.

Port City could take some measure of comfort in that the game was far more competitive than the previous two.

It has been a fine season for the young Stars with just one loss in nine games.

Photo Credit: 3S Media