By Chip Arial
Special to The Post-Searchlight

The Bainbridge High School varsity soccer teams swept a pair of region contests last Friday night in Cordele. The Lady Bearcats defeated the Crisp County High School girls’ soccer team 1-0 in overtime and the Bearcats defeated the Cougars 2-0.

In the girls’ contest, junior midfielder Aida Diaz connected on a 12-yard scoring shot in the 2nd minute of overtime, to lift the Lady Bearcats (5-4, 4-1) to a 1-0 victory over the host Lady Cougars.

Diaz’s score was the end result of a well-placed crossing pass by Lady Bearcat junior midfielder Cara Jones, who picked up the assist.

Both teams battled throughout the contest as each teams’ defenses stiffened towards their respective goals. In overtime the Lady Bearcats played with a renewed since of urgency that led to the game winning goal by Diaz.

Bainbridge’s senior goalkeeper Grace McIntosh was credited with four saves in the shutout victory.

The Bearcats (4-3-1, 4-1) secured an important region victory over Crisp County after scoring a goal in each half to garner the 2-0 win.

Bainbridge threatened throughout the first half and finally got on the scoreboard with a goal in the 17th minute of play. A failed clearance pass by the Cougars was intercepted by Bearcat senior midfielder Bennett Enfinger who lofted a 20-yard crossing shot that landed in the left side of the goal for the first score of the game.

In the second half Bainbridge’s freshman forward Caleb Harris was fouled just outside the penalty area, in the 47th minute, to set up what proved to be the final Bearcat goal on the night.

Bearcat junior defender Nathaniel Lambert lofted a pass to the six-yard box, that Harris headed down in front of freshman midfielder Angle Munoz who quickly shot and scored from four yards out.

Senior goalkeeper Bryce Williams was credited with the shutout and had five saves on the night.

The teams battled Albany High School last night in Albany and will host Americus-Sumter Friday night at Centennial field in Bainbridge.