The defending state soccer champion Pearl River Community College Lady Wildcats will host the 2006 women’s and men’s MACJC State Tournament here Saturday and Sunday on the PRCC campus.

Participating women’s teams include South No. 1 Pearl River, South No. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast, North No. 1 Northwest Mississippi, and North No. 2 Hinds; while men’s teams include South No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast, South No. 2 Pearl River, North No. 1 Hinds, and North No. 2 Holmes.

On the men’s side, the tournament winner will boast the MACJC and Region 23 title; while a separate women’s regional tournament hosted by the state championship team will be held Oct. 27-28.

First-round action gets underway at 12 noon Saturday with Northwest’s women taking on Mississippi Gulf Coast, followed by Mississippi Gulf Coast’s men taking on Holmes at 2 p.m.

At 4 p.m., Pearl River’s women faces Hinds, while Pearl River’s men take on Hinds at 6 p.m.

A women’s consolation match between the losers of Saturday’s NWCC-MGCCC and PRCC-HCC games kicks off Sunday’s action at 2 p.m., while the women’s and men’s championship games get underway at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, between the winners of Saturday’s games.

The winner of the men’s state-regional championship will advance to play

Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa in the NJCAA South District Tournament October 28.

Pearl River Community College’s women’s and men’s soccer teams swept Meridian in MACJC South Division action Saturday to wrap up both school’s regular season schedules.

The Lady Wildcats took a 7-0 shutout, while the Wildcats followed with a 2-0 blanking of the visiting Eagles to clinch a berth in Oct. 21-22’s MACJC State Tournament to be played in Poplarville.

In women’s action, Hannah Johnson of Bay High scored three goals; while Nikki Shows of Forrest County AHS added two. PRCC led 2-0 at the intermission.

In men’s action, David Buckley of Bay High and Bobby Hanson of Oak Grove scored goals for the Wildcats; while Orin Shorter of Florence had an assist. PRCC led 1-0 at the half.