UPDATE: No. 6 Bulldogs lose NJCAA opener

UPDATE: Tuesday's start time has been pushed back to noon.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — No. 6 Mississippi Gulf Coast lost a heartbreaker in its opening game of the NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship here Monday.

The Bulldogs led for more than 60 minutes of play, but Pellissippi State got two goals in the final 15 minutes to win 2-1 in the second game of Pool A play at John Hunt Park.

"We missed some early chances that kept them in the game and kept their energy high," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "In the end, once it gets that late and the legs start to go, it's just about taking your chances."

The eighth-seeded Bulldogs (12-3-5) have to win in regulation or overtime Tuesday against top-seeded Pima (19-1) to have a chance to advance. If they win by two or more goals, they'd move into the semifinals. A win by a goal would throw the pool into deeper tiebreakers, which would be determined by goals scored and allowed. A tie or loss will end the season.

Tuesday's game will start at noon, nearly two hours later than originally scheduled because of the weather forecast.

Gulf Coast scored in the 10^th minute on a beautiful goal by Luke Hopkins (So., Clinton/Clinton). Victor Moerck (So., Vaerlose, Denmark/Lyngby Handelsgymnasium) slid into a 50-50 ball and poked it in the direction of Hopkins. He took a couple of touches at the edge of the box and curled a shot into the top-right corner for a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs had a couple of chances before halftime to expand that lead and take more wind out of the Panthers' sails but couldn't take advantage.

Pellissippi State (12-2-2) scored on a shot from their half of the center circle in the 77^th minute to tie it up. The Panthers got the winner with 3:51 to play.

Gulf Coast generated a couple of great chances in the next minute, with Moerck's overhead kick being pushed over the bar and Hopkins' volley narrowly missing high.

"Their first goal was a good finish," Handy said. "There's not a lot you can do about that. Once it's an even game, it's who takes the better chances. We had chances late to tie, and it didn't go our way."

PSCC rebounded from a disappointing loss Sunday to Pima. The Panthers lost 3-2 in the second overtime.

The Bulldogs will need to replicate that script Tuesday, when the goal will be simple.

"We just have to win," Handy said. "If we get a win, we could force a three-way tie, and we'd see what happens."

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