West wins at Laurel tourney

By By Shawn Wansley/EMG Sports Writer
November 16, 2003
LAUREL The Laurel Lady Golden Tornadoes opened the soccer season on a successful note.
After dropping their first game of the day, the Lady Tornadoes stormed back to capture the championship of their own Laurel High School Invitational Soccer Tournament at the Sportsplex.
Laurel defeated Meridian 2-1 in sudden death for the title. The game was 1-1 after regulation and each team made three goals in a shootout.
Each team then scored on its first attempt in sudden death.
After a Meridian miss, Laurel's Alexa Owens scored the game-winner.
For the boys, the West Lauderdale Knights defeated Newton County, 2-1, in a shootout for the championship. West Lauderdale outscored Newton County, 5-3, in the shootout.
On the girls side, Meridian, Northeast Lauderdale and Forrest County AHS each won their respective brackets. Laurel and West Lauderdale had a shootout to determine the wild-card team, with the Lady Tornadoes winning 3-1.
In the semifinals, Laurel defeated Forrest County AHS 3-1 in a shootout, and Meridian blanked Northeast Lauderdale 4-0 to set up the championship game.
For the boys, Petal, West Lauderdale and Newton County were bracket winners.
Meridian beat Northeast Lauderdale 4-0 in a shootout to become the wild card team.
Newton County edged Petal 2-1, and West Lauderdale blanked Meridian 2-0 in the semifinals.