MCCOMB – Natchez High’s soccer teams earned a pair of victories on the road Monday against McComb.

The NHS girls team won 3-2 in overtime thanks to penalty kicks.

Early in the first half, Natchez forward Leslie Patrick scored from an assist from Tammy Fleming. However, McComb bounced back, scoring two goals before halftime.

Both teams played evenly in the second half until late in the game when Fleming slotted a pass to Stacy Weaver who scored on a strong kick past the McComb goalie. With the score tied 2-2 in regulation, the teams played a scoreless five minute overtime.

The match was settled with penalty kicks, Natchez scoring three straight shots to McComb’s one.

&uot;Our regular goalie is on the injure reserve list, and Leslie Patrick came in as a substitute goalie and protected the goal the entire second half with some great saves,&uot; said Natchez girls coach Dana Benson. &uot;We’re continuing to develop our game and team character. I want to congratulate all my girls on their hard work.&uot;

The Lady Bulldogs are now 3-1 on the season.

Natchez’s boys battled the McComb boys in a defensive slug-fest characterized by strong clearing kicks and close marking on both sides. Neither team was able to gain an advantage in the first half and the score went into halftime 0-0.

With just 23 minutes left in the second half, however, NHS midfielder Carlos Russell beat his defender and passed the ball to forward Jerome Mayberry. Mayberry beat the last defender and pounded the ball past the McComb goalie to give NHS the 1-0 lead.

Each team was limited to just seven shots on goal. NHS goalie Carl Hayes made four outstanding saves in the second half to guarantee the win.

&uot;We got outstanding defensive work from Ivan Dixon, Paige Bonds and Chad Jones,&uot; said Natchez coach Peter Rinaldi. &uot;Michael Pace held control of the midfield. And teamwork between Carlos Russell, Chris Hughes, Carlos Hartwell and Jerome Mayberry gave us better offensive capability.&uot; The Natchez boys team is now 2-3 on the season. Both Natchez teams next travel to Forest Hill on Friday.