NATCHEZ – North Pike’s varsity soccer teams swept a pair of non-division games from Natchez High on a clear, cold Monday night at Natchez High Stadium.

In varsity girls action, Jennifer Burrough scored two goals as the Lady Jaguars defeated the Lady Bulldogs 3-0.

&uot;She was all-division goalie for two years. Then I lost three forwards to graduation (last year), so I had to move her,&uot; said North Pike soccer coach Dwight Stockton about Burrough, the team’s leading scorer.

North Pike (6-2) jumped out to a 1-0 lead when, after Natchez goalie Mallory Dixon went out of the goal to keep Burrough from scoring with a nice save, Danielle Rawls got the loose ball and scored about 15 minutes into the game.

&uot;We were a little sluggish to begin with,&uot; Stockton said. &uot;Then we began to move the ball like we’re used to.&uot;

Lady Bulldogs coach Dana Benson was not pleased with the way played on defense throughout the first half.

&uot;We’ve got fullbacks trying to play midfielders,&uot; she said during the first half.

Natchez had what appeared to be the game-tying goal when Renee Davis’ corner kick went to Ellenora McGehee, and then the ball went off the left side of McGehee’s face.

Unfortunately, McGehee raised her hands up to protect her face and the ball went off her hands, as well, resulting in a handball call.

Burrough then made her first goal of the game late in the first half for a 2-0 halftime lead and then added her second goal late in the game for the final score.

Jaguars 2, Bulldogs 1

Kerry King’s penalty kick midway through the second half gave the Jaguars a come-from-behind win over the Bulldogs.

&uot;We had a lot of what I call quality shots on goal,&uot; Stockton said. &uot;It was a good win.&uot;

Natchez (3-6) got out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Michael Pace early in the first half.

That was one of the few opportunities Natchez had in the first half as the Jaguars defense, as well as their offense, kept the pressure on the Bulldogs for much of the game.

&uot;(Natchez goalie) Lamar (O’Neal) had 13 saves, which is indicative of the way our defense played,&uot; said Bulldogs coach Peter Rinaldi.

North Pike’s James Harrod tied the score at one when he nailed a kick from about 20 yards out past a diving O’Neal late in the first half.

&uot;Their goalie played real good tonight,&uot; said Stockton about O’Neal. &uot;We had a couple of breakaways and he did a real good job.&uot;

After Natchez was called for handball in the box, King made the penalty kick, which ended up being the game-winning kick. Jaguar goalie Tyler Travis made several key saves late in the game to preserve the win.

Natchez will next play on Jan. 4 at home against Warren Central, a game that was originally scheduled for Nov. 26, but was postponed due to inclement weather.

North Pike next hosts Cathedral Friday night in a key division matchup with the varsity girls game at 6 p.m. and the varsity boys game at 7:30 p.m.

The Jaguars and the Green Wave will be playing for first place in division play as both teams are 2-0. The Lady Jaguars are 2-0 in the division and the Lady Green Wave are 1-1.