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MGCCC men's soccer starts season ranked in national poll

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By Datti Jinkiri

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College men's soccer team had a great spring season, finishing with an 11-3 record. Because of this, the Bulldogs were rewarded with a top-ten ranking in the United Soccer Coaches NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll. The Bulldogs entered the fall as the eighth-ranked team in the country. This matches their preseason ranking in the inaugural Division II poll last season.

They topped the MACCC South Division last season before losing to Pearl River Community College 3-2 in the MACCC Semifinals. Despite their impressive 11-3 mark, the Bulldogs were controversially snubbed from the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

The Bulldogs have some local flavor to their team, as they currently house two Long Beach High School graduates on their roster. Sophomore midfielder Kevin Treminio and freshman defender Nathaniel Mink will feature for the team this upcoming season. Both players will be looking to contribute valuable minutes to the Bulldogs this fall.

Treminio played in fourteen matches and started once for the Bulldogs in his debut campaign. He earned NJCAA All-Academic Third Team and MACCC All-Academic honors last season.

Mink anchored the Bearcats' defensive unit and helped the school win its first MHSAA boys soccer state championship earlier this year. He was also named Defensive MVP of the Coast All-Star Game in February.

The Bulldogs will travel to Decatur for a road game against East Central Community College on September 28.