Women's Soccer | 1/15/2025 7:43:00 AM

Eighth-grader Alex Holmes scored the game-winning goal that secured a deserved win for the Clinton High School Women's Soccer team as they beat the Germantown Lady Mavericks 1-0 in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Region 2-7A game 1-0 on Tuesday night at Arrow Field.

The Lady Arrows improved their overall record to 11-3-1 and their MHSAA Region 2-7A record to 3-2. The win keeps Clinton in contention for the region title as they have three more matches -- Tupelo, Madison Central, and Starkville -- in front of them.

"It was a very important region win over Germantown," Clinton Head Women's Soccer Coach Elliot Rimmer said. "In our region, we know every game is going to be a war, and tonight the girls were up for it. I thought we did a good job executing the game plan, and staying positive and focused even when it would have been easy to get frustrated."

In the 53rd minute, Carly Howell provided the out-swinging service off a free kick into the 18-yard box. As the ball bounce and a mad scramble ensued, Holmes calmly headed the ball into the goalkeeper-less net.

On the defensive end, Mandy Leach led the back line with her constant leadership and deft play. Ellyn Burchfield collected another clean sheet on the season, as well. The two combined on possibly the biggest defensive stop of the night when Leach provided a goal-line clearance from a Lady Maverick shot on goal, and Burchfield used her strong kick to push the ball away from the Lady Arrows' goal in the 24th minute.

"We've accepted that from here on out every game should be treated like a playoff game, and that's what the environment began to feel like tonight," Rimmer said. "A big moment was Mandy clearing the ball off the line during the first half, which is just the latest example of Mandy coming up big when it matters this season."

After the game, the Lady Arrows recognized their seven seniors that are members of the Class of 2025. Those Lady Arrows were Brittan Wall, Dalila Holliday, Faith Taylor, Kate Crisler, Kate Jackson, Isabella Jones, and Leach.

UP NEXT

The Lady Arrows take on the Tupelo Lady Wave at 5 p.m. on Friday night in Clinton. In the last match, Tupelo defeated Clinton 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw after extra time on Dec. 12, in Tupelo.