Coach Chip Ariail’s Bainbridge Lady Cats soccer team opened their season in impressive fashion last week, posting consecutive victories over the Westover High School Lady Patriots at home on Tuesday and the Berrien County Lady Rebels in Nashville on Friday.

Lady Cats forward Leanna Flowers, who had a three-goal hat trick, scored a breakaway goal in the 57th minute to give the Lady Cats a 4-3 victory over the Lady Patriots on Tuesday at Centennial Field. They scored six first-half goals Friday on the way to an 8-0 victory over the Lady Rebels.

Flowers’ winning goal against the Lady Patriots was assisted by senior forward Whitney Thomas, who sent a through pass to the right side that Flowers shot from 16 yards out.

The Lady Cats took an early 1-0 lead in the first minute of the match when Thomas got behind the left side of the Lady Patriots defense and scored from 10 yards out. The goal was assisted by Aubre Provence.

The Lady Patriots pulled even 1-1 in the sixth minute on a free kick from 20 yards out on the left side that crossed to the top corner of the right side of the goal.

The Lady Patriots then took a brief 2-1 lead at the 10-minute mark on a 10-yard follow-up pass to the right side by one of their forwards.

The Lady Cats then quickly pulled even again 2-2 in the 11th minute when Flowers took a through pass from Thomas and scored on a breakaway. The Lady Patriots reclaimed the lead in the 23rd minute, but Flowers tied it up 3-3 on a breakaway goal in the 39th minute, setting the stage for her game-winning goal.

In Friday’s 8-0 victory over the Lady Rebels in Nashville, the Lady Cats jumped out to a 6-0 haltime lead.

For the second time in as many matches, they scored in the first minute. Lady Cats sophomore midfielder Savannah Cook followed up a failed clearance pass for a 5-yard shot from the left side and a quick 1-0 lead.

Thomas, who had a three-goal hat trick on the night, scored in the third minute from 12 yards out on the right side with an assist from Flowers to put the Lady Cats out front 2-0.

Several Lady Rebel defenders tried to clear a ball in front of their goal but inadvertently kicked it into their net, giving the Bearcats an on goal and a 3-0 lead.

The other three Lady Cats goals before halftime were scored by Provence in the eighth minute and by Thomas in the 23rd and 32nd minutes.

Sophomore midfielder Charlton Reynolds assisted on Thomas’ 32nd minute goal.

In the second half, Flowers scored the Lady Cats final two goals in the 48th and 67th minutes.