NATCHEZ — Si’Edriq Middleton’s two first-quarter goals proved all Franklin County High School would need as the Lady Bulldogs shut out Cathedral High School 2-0 in Friday night soccer action.

Middleton scored both of her goals in the first half for Franklin County, the first coming with approximately 23 minutes remaining in the half. She tacked on her second goal with about 13 minutes left in the half on a corner kick that bounced off a Cathedral player and into the net.

“She’s on a roll right now,” Franklin County head coach Jeff Long said. “She scored both goals in a 2-1 win against Hattiesburg, and she scored three (Thursday) night, so she’s getting multiple goals in every game now.

“She has a strong leg, good finish, and she’s been our go-to girl right now.”

Franklin County attempted 11 shots on goal while limiting Cathedral to seven. Long said his girls’ defense again came up big in a game that likely decided the Region 6-1A/2A/3A championship, but he was disappointed with his team’s second-half intensity.

“I was very pleased with the first half,” Long said. “We came out and attacked and set the tone and dominated the game. We played on their end the whole first half.

“At halftime, we talked about the things we needed to do to protect the lead, and we overdid it. We sat back and let them attack us the whole half. We made some good defensive plays, but we gave up too many corner kicks and too many penalty kicks, and that’s the way you let teams back in the game.”

Keeper Macy Zisken had the shutout for Franklin County.

Cathedral head coach Donovan Silva could not be reached for comment.

Franklin County (17-0, 7-0) will play at Florence Monday, while Cathedral (6-4, 5-2) will play at Loyd Star Monday.

Franklin County boys 8, Cathedral 1

Long described his boys’ game as the exact opposite of his girls’ game: a poor first half and a strong second half.

Franklin County only led Cathedral 2-0 at intermission, but the Bulldogs outscored the Green Wave 6-1 in the second half to put them away, 8-1.

“We had no intensity in the first half and were just a little flat,” Long said. “We came out and played much better in the second half.”

Johnny Moore and Hoby Mullins scored two goals for Franklin County, and Kemo Verdin, Zayne Mullins, Thomas Slagle and Brice White each finished with one goal. Cathedral’s Platani Doan scored the team’s only goal.

Cathedral head coach Dennis Hogue could not be reached for comment.

Franklin County (17-0, 7-0) will play at Florence Monday, while Cathedral (2-9, 1-6) will play at Loyd Star Monday.