The Bainbridge middle school Lady Cats closed their 2017 schedule with a 3-1 victory over the Early County Middle School Lady Bobcats last Wednesday in Blakely.

Bainbridge scored three first half goals in route to the victory.

     In the 8th minute Lady Cat Forward Sarah Victor scored to give Bainbridge a 1-0 lead. Lady Cat defender Paola Barbagelata sent a thru-pass that got behind the Lady Bobcat defense and Victor collected it on a breakaway scoring a goal on a shot from 6 yards out.

     The Lady Cats increased their lead at 2-0, in the 12 minute, as Victor scored her second goal of the game. The Lady Bobcats had a goal kick on their end of the field, an alert Victor intercepted the clearing pass and dribbled the ball into the Early County penalty area and scoring from a shot 12 yards away.

     The final Lady Cat goal came in the 18th minute as Midfielder Ahmara Register scored following a breakaway. The Lady Bobcat defense were attempting a pass at midfield when an alert Register stepped in between and stole the ball leading to a breakaway on the left side, who then scored from 6 yards out.

     Early County got on the board in the second half with six minutes remaining to cut the Bainbridge lead at 3-1.

A failed clearance ball by the Lady Bearcat defense was deflected and into the path of an Early County attacker who had split the Bainbridge defense into open space.

In an attempt to save, the Bainbridge Goal Keeper Reece Conley rushed forward to create pressure, but the Lady Bobcat attacker was able to chip the shot in for a goal from 16 yards out.

Despite the lone goal, Conley collected 3 saves in the win.

   Coach Ariail reflected on the season ending victory. “I was proud that the ladies went out and gave a good effort and worked together for the victory.” Although we finished the season at 1-4-1, I thought the girls progressed from game to game.

“For a large majority of our squad, it was their first experience in playing soccer, and with a commitment  to developing their skills, I can see them becoming a competitive group. We had a small squad, in fact we had several games playing with only ten, but the girls persevered throughout the entirity of the season.”

Finishing the season finale were eighth grade members Jennifer Pascual, Britney Lopez, Brooklyn Willis, Sarah Victor, Paola Barbagelata, and Kaniya Kimble. Seventh grade members were Emily Rodriguez, Ahmara Register, Talia Sims, Zariah Marcus, Reece Conley, and Jadia Medina.

One eighth grade member, Ivey Christopher, sustained an injury forcing an untimely end to her season following the first game, has the potential of becoming a solid player in the future as well.