The Bearcats men’s soccer team traveled to Cairo on Tuesday night to play their arch rivals the Syrupmakers. The Bearcats varsity team had not won against the Syrupmakers since 2013.

Starting on offense for the Bearcats were Holden White, Angel Munoz, Joe Emmons, Cesar Chiguil, Nix McIntosh and Collin Morrison.

The Bearcats defense consisted of team captain Ben Mulkey, Tom Emmons, Andru Matthews and Adam Pascal, with goalie Matt Hall.

The game ranged back and forth across Cairo’s West Thomas Stadium with the team from Bainbridge appearing lackluster and listless at the start.  It was only after Cairo scored in the 34th minute of the first half that the Bearcats finally came alive.

Turning the tables on Cairo, the Bearcats pounced back and dominated Cairo for the rest of the first half and all of the second half.

Scoring in the 47th minute of the game, midfielder Nix McIntosh knocked the ball into Cairo’s goal off an assist from Cesar Chiguil.

But Cairo’s frustration with this new and unknown Bearcat team quickly became apparent. The Syrupmakers fouled the Bearcats multiple times, and the officials quickly lost control of the game with several fights breaking out on the field. Bearcat Andru Matthews was ejected from the game after rushing to the defense of Cesar Chiguil.

Now playing a man down, the repeated fouls by the Syrupmakers led to a penalty kick in the 74th minute from 25 yards out where Gino Pallotti launched an amazing kick that sailed past the Cairo defenders and into the goal.

The final score was Bainbridge 2, Cairo 1. After beating Cairo for the first time in 5 years the Bearcats, now 4-6-0, travel to Harris County on Friday night.