Mississippi Gulf Coast’s Ivan Gonzalez had a dominant week at Bary Thrash Field and the MACCC took notice. The sophomore midfielder from Center Hill High School in Olive Branch was named the conference’s Player of the Week on Tuesday.
He returned to the lineup and led Gulf Coast to a pair of big wins with a goal and four assists. He had two assists in a 6-0 win over Southwest Mississippi to close out the regular season and clinch a home playoff game.
In that NJCAA Gulf District quarterfinal, he played a part in all the Bulldogs’ goals in a 4-1 win over Itawamba. He scored one, assisted on two and drew the penalty for the other.
He’s the second Gulf Coast player to earn the award. Hyungjoon Lee won in August.
Gonzalez is now eligible for NJCAA weekly honors. They will be announced Wednesday.
Gulf Coast continues postseason play Friday when the Bulldogs take on arch rival Pearl River in the district semifinals at Ellisville. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Bob Bakken is the most recognized and most trusted name in DeSoto County news and sports reporting, as readers continue to express their appreciation for his accuracy and fairness in the stories he writes. Bob is also heard on 95.3 The Rebel twice a week with sports updates and high school football play-by-play broadcasts in the fall. A former newspaper editor and writer, his award-winning background also includes television news producing, sports media relations, and radio broadcasting.
