By Chip Arial

Special to The Post-Searchlight

The Bainbridge Bearcat varsity boys’ soccer team closed out their season in winning fashion by defeating the Brooks County Trojans, Friday night at Centennial field. The win also snapped a string of three close losses in recent action.

Against Brooks County, Bainbridge (8-6-1, 6-4 region) scored three goals in each half to secure a 6-0 victory.

Bainbridge struck quickly to take a 1-0 lead, verses the Trojans, scoring in the fourth minute when senior forward Jesus Contreras settled a long lofted pass by teammate junior Misael Rodriguez who split two defenders on a breakaway, then scored from six-yards out.

With ten minutes left in the first half Contreras scored again, giving the Bearcats a 2-0 lead. This time a volley shot led to the goal as he crossed the ball in from the right side of the six-yard box.

Bearcat junior defender Nathaniel Lambert was credited with the assist on the play, as he sent a pass over the Trojan defense and into the penalty area leading to the score.

Contreras had a hand in the final score of the first half as well, sending a pass to teammate Jordan McMullen, in the 34th minute, who scored giving Bainbridge a 3-0 lead.

Contreras, with his back to the Trojan goal and just outside of the Brooks County penalty area, chipped a pass back over his head and the Brooks defense as well, that McMullen ran up to and headed downward and into the goal.

In the second half Bainbridge forward Bryce Williams, normally the starting goalkeeper, recorded his first goal of the season in the 43rd minute.

The scoring play was set up as Lambert sent a through pass to Williams just inside the Trojan Penalty area.

Seeing space he quickly crossed a shot from 17 yards away, the Trojan keeper partially deflected the shot, but the ball spun off and made it across the goal line to give Bainbridge a 4-0 lead.

Bearcat sophomore midfielder Gino Palloti made an impact on the next two goals, scoring one and assisting the final one scored on the night. A Trojan defender misjudged a lofted ball just outside his penalty area, in the 49th minute that Pallotti alertly stepped towards. He quickly got off a shot from 17-yards out that resulted in a score, the fifth Bearcat goal on the night.

The final score of the night came in the 66th minute, as Pallotti sent a direct free kick into the Brooks County six-yard box. A Trojan defender tried to clear the ball with a header, but Bearcat sophomore Lerone Broadnax, blocked the path of the ball and it ricochet off of his foot, being redirected into the goal.

Bainbridge senior goalkeeper Spencer Shreves was credited with the win. He had five saves, but shared goal tending duties with freshman Bryce Jones, and sophomore Kevin Gabino

The win snapped a three game losing streak, as Bainbridge had dropped heartbreaking games to Worth County, 2-1, in the final second of the game, 4-0 to Thomas County and 2-1 to Americus-Sumter in the waning minutes of the game.

Senior Bennett Enfinger scored against Worth County on a header following a corner kick by Lambert, while Senior Evan Oldaker converted a penalty kick for a goal against Americus-Sumter.