By Chip Ariail
Special to The Post-Searchlight

The Bainbridge High School Boys Bearcat Varsity Soccer team scored seven goals in the first twenty minutes of play to pick up their first win of the season in a 10-0 region victory over the Monroe High School Tornadoes Tuesday night at Centennial field.

Bainbridge took a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute on a goal by Bearcat Senior Midfielder Jesus Contreras.

The lead was extended two minutes later to 2-0, as Contreras scored again after he followed up his own deflected shot and quickly converted the next attempt for a goal from 8 yards out.

Senior Forward Jaycee Castro split two defenders and rocketed a shot to the right post for a goal in the 11th minute, for the third Bearcat goal.

The fourth Bainbridge goal, which came in the 13th minute, was the result of a misdirected header by a Monroe defender that went over his Goalkeepers head for an own goal.

On the play, Contreras sent a lofted ball towards the Monroe goal and Castro pressured the defender that resulted in the mishap.

Bearcat Freshman Forward Caleb Harris sent a well-placed pass to Contreras who got behind the Tornado defense for the fifth Bainbridge goal in the 14th minute. The sixth goal was scored by Castro, who took a throw in from the right side from junior defender Jordan McMullen, and raced past a Monroe defender to score from six yards out. The final goal of the first half came in the 20th minute, as Bearcat sophomore forward-midfielder Gino Pallotti scored following a pass from junior midfielder Jose Padron.

Bainbridge scored three goals in the second half, invoking the mercy rule, as Pham Quong (Penalty Kick 26th minute), Joey Mathis (28th minute), and Misael Rodriguez (35th minute) scored goals.

The Bearcats opened the season on the road falling to 2015 state 6A runner-up Northview High School 3-0 in Dothan, followed by a 4-2 loss in non-region contest to Americus-Sumter last Friday. Despite an early 1-0 Bearcat lead the Panthers scored two goals in each half to take a 4-2 victory.

After taking the lead 1-0 on a goal by Contreras, Bainbridge attacked the Panther goal area and appeared to have pushed the score at 2-0, but a goal by Castro was disallowed after he was ruled offside. Americus-Sumter then went on to score two goals to take a 2-1 halftime lead. In the second half they extended the lead at 3-1 in the 59th minute, but Bainbridge rallied and cut the score to 3-2 with twenty minutes remaining. Despite the valiant attempt to get back into the game, the Panthers scored with 13 minutes remaining to put the game out of reach. Contreras scored both goals with assisted being credited to Castro and Corey Morrison.  Bainbridge is 1-2 overall, and 1-0 in region play.