Despite first half leads, the girls and boys Natchez High School soccer teams failed to hold on as the McComb girls defeated the Lady Bulldogs 2-1 and the McComb boys won by a score of 3-1 Thursday at Natchez.

A hand ball penalty called on the McComb Lady Tigers led to the only score of the night for the Natchez girls. Senior Amber Blake kicked a high shot from the penalty box just over the hands of the Tigers’ goalie.

However, two goals scored in the last 10 minutes of the second half by McComb’s Tabetha Hazelwood gave the Lady Tigers the win.

&uot;The first half we controlled the ball,&uot; said Natchez head coach Dana Benson. &uot;The second half we relaxed a little bit and the other team took advantage.&uot;

The Natchez boys took the early lead in their game after a goal by Chris Hughes in the first half.

The Tigers answered late in the second half with three goals of their own. Donald Ard scored the first goal for the Tigers, and after a corner kick by Mark Mathis, McComb’s Brooks Vinson kicked the second goal of the night for the Tigers, giving them the lead.

On an assist from Zach Williams, Donald Ard scored his second of the night giving McComb its third and final goal.

&uot;We played a really good first half, but we don’t have the depth for substitutions,&uot; said Natchez head coach Peter Rinaldi.&160;&uot;We are a young team. The boys played really well tonight, despite the loss.&uot;

The Natchez girls now have a record of 1-1, while the boys fall to a 1-2 record. Both teams play again today against Franklin County at Natchez, with the girls game starting at 5 p.m. and the boys immediately following.