Roberth Campos nets a pair of goals in EMCC’s 2-1 home soccer win over Southern Union State

SCOOBA – On the heels of some close decisions this season with different outcomes, the East Mississippi Community College men's soccer team managed to come out on the winning end Monday afternoon with a 2-1 comeback victory over Southern Union State Community College.

With half of their losses this year having been by one goal, the home-standing Lions trailed the Bison, 1-0, at the half after the visitors scored their lone goal of the game nine minutes into the non-conference contest.

Following intermission, EMCC freshman Roberth Campos scored the equalizer in the 55^th minute on an assist from Starkville High School product Khoa Le.

The two teams traded opportunities to potentially break the deadlock over the next 23 minutes of game action until EMCC freshman Matthew Halliday (Liverpool, England) found Campos on the left wing, who found the back of the net for the go-ahead tally in the 78^th minute with his second goal of the match.

The Lions then went into defensive mode for the remaining 12 minutes of scoreless action to avenge their previous 2-1 road setback to SUSCC that was played earlier in the month in Opelika, Ala.  

"We've been really close a few games this season, but we've previously struggled to raise the level of effort and play when needed. It's nice to see the hard work start to pay off," EMCC head soccer coach Chris Rash said.

Campos, a native of San Carlos, Costa Rica and a product of Sulphur High School in Louisiana, became the third different EMCC player this season to score two goals in a contest. Fellow freshman Caden Pearsell (Meridian, MS/Northeast Lauderdale HS) has accomplished the feat twice (vs. St. Charles CC and Northwest Mississippi), while Southwest Mississippi transfer Michael Godshaw (Vicksburg, MS/Warren Central HS) scored twice during EMCC's 3-3 draw at Missouri-based Mineral Area College back in August.    

Defensively in this week's rematch with the Bison, Hunter McMillon made his second start in goal for the Lions this season. The Greene County High School product responded by turning away five SUSCC shots on the day. McMillon previously earned the start as EMCC's goalkeeper in the Lions' 3-3 tie at Mineral Area.

"We're excited to now carry some momentum and confidence into Friday's home conference game against Itawamba," Rash continued.

The EMCC Lions will play host to the ICC Indians on Friday (Oct. 3) in MACCC action with a 5 p.m. women's match preceding a 7 p.m. men's game at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus.