By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — Home-standing St. Patrick earned a trip to the girls’ Class I State championship prep soccer match Tuesday.

The defending state champion Lady Irish shutout rival OLA 4-0 in the South State finals in an afternoon Fat Tuesday matinee.

Bella Jordan had the hat trick for St. Patrick with three goals, and Katherine Adams added the other goal.

Samantha Johnon had the clean sheet in goal in the big win for the Lady Irish. as St. Patrick earned the right to defend its crown.

St. Patrick will face Tupelo Christian at 5 p.m., for the state title Friday at Richland High School. The Class I state finals will be a rematch from last season.

Last season, the Lady Irish thumped Tupelo Christian 6-0 in the Class I state title match.

In other girls’ South State playoff action on Tuesday, visiting George County pulled off a 2-1 win over Long Beach at Lumpkin-Magee Stadium that went to penalty kicks. The goal in regular time for the Lady Rebels was tallied by Yazmin Humphrey and it was Kierra Hawley with the win in goal.

George County will meet either Warren Central or Saltillo in the state championship match. Those two teams will meet in the North State finals Wednesday night.

In Class 4A, Bay High went on the road and fell to Sumrall 2-1.

On the boys pitch Tuesday, two other “Southern Six” squads earned the opportunity to defend the state championships they won last season just as the SPHS girls did.

In Class 6A, visiting Long Beach slipped past George County 2-1 at Gill-Martin Stadium in Lucedale.

 Long Beach will face Center Hill in the state finals Saturday at 4 p.m., at Germantown High after Center Hill beat Warren Central 4-1 Tuesday in the North State finals.

The Bearcats beat Lafayette 1-0 in the Class 5A state championship match last year. Long Beach is actually playing for its fourth straight state championship.

In Class 4A, Bay High nipped Pass Christian in the South State championship for the second consecutive season.

Bay High will meet New Albany Saturday at 2 p.m., at Ridgeland High School after New Albany beat North Pontotoc 2-1 Tuesday. The Tigers beat North Pontotoc 3-2 last year in the title tilt. 

In Class 3A, home-standing St. Stanislaus beat Sacred Heat 2-1. The Rock-A-Chaws will meet St. Andrews for the state title Friday.

Also, Northwest Rankin nipped Gulfport in the Class 7A South State championship match.

MHSAA SOCCER PLAYOFFS

SEMIFINAL ROUND

CLASS 7A

Boys

Tuesday’s Scores

Hernando 4, Oxford 2

Northwest Rankin 1, Gulfport 0

Girls

Tuesday’s Scores

Clinton 2, Madison Central 1 (OT)

Northwest Rankin 5, Brandon 0

CLASS 6A

Boys

Tuesday’s Scores

Center Hill 4, Warren Central 1

Long Beach 3, George County 2 (OT)

Girls

Tuesday’s Scores

George County 2, Long Beach 1 (OT)

Wednesday

Warren Central at Saltillo

CLASS 5A

Boys

Tuesday’s Scores

Lafayette 3, New Hope 1

Florence 2, Stone 1

Girls

Tuesday’s Scores

Lafayette 2, Pontotoc 0

Florence 5, South Jones 0

CLASS 4A

Boys

Tuesday’s Scores

New Albany 1, North Pontotoc 0

Bay High 2, Pass Christian 1

Girls

Tuesday’s Scores

West Lauderdale 3, Choctaw Central 2

Sumrall 2, Bay High 1

CLASS I

Boys

Monday

St. Andrew’s 7, Tupelo Christian 0

Tuesday’s Scores

St. Stanislaus 2, Sacred Heart 1

Girls

Tuesday’s Scores

Tupelo Christian 2, Mooreville 0

St. Patrick 4, OLA 0