Bainbridge soccer routs Dougherty, girls’ and boys’ split against Peach County
Published 12:07 pm Wednesday, March 19, 2025
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The Bainbridge girls’ (6-3, 4-0) and boys’ (6-3, 3-1) soccer programs continued their dominance defeating the Dougherty Trojans 10-0 and 8-1 in the lead-up to their clash with the Peach County Trojans Friday Night in Fort Valley where both region one girls’ soccer teams have yet to allow a goal in region play, and the Bainbridge boys’ soccer program have only conceded one goal in region play in their lead up against Peach County.
“It’s a big game, with both programs being undefeated in region play; whoever wins Friday is in the driver’s seat,” Bainbridge head soccer coach Brian Hill said. “We have an opportunity to control the situation with the girls and boys.”
The BHS girls’ soccer team secured a thrilling 2-1 win, scoring in the 17th and 68th minutes, while the boys’ team fell 2-1 in a heartbreaking double overtime loss against Peach County. Both teams showcased skill and grit. The April 11th rematch, also Senior Night, promises to be a key event.
Forward Addison Hill scored back-to-back goals in the sixth and seventh minute against Dougherty, her twenty and twenty-first goals of the season. The Bearcats came out roaring in a decisive region matchup scoring eight goals in the first twenty minutes of the match.
“We’re trying to play fast as often as we can,” Brian Hill said regarding the BHS girls soccer team getting out to quick starts. “The key is leveraging our speed by getting the ball to advantageous matchups.”
In the ninth minute, sophomore midfielder and halfback Drew Thompson showcased her precision by burying a goal into the back of the net, pushing the Bearcats to a swift 3-0 lead. The momentum was unstoppable as No. 7 senior midfielder and defender Abigail Holley followed up with a goal in the fourteenth minute by a penalty kick, making it 4-0. Just seconds later, the talented freshman halfback, No. 11 Mya Kimble, added to the tally, making it 5-0.
The excitement continued as No. 15 senior midfielder and defender Emma Ryan Shirley joined the scoring party, confidently placing one behind the net in the fifteenth minute, her fourth of the season. Drew Thompson was not finished yet—she scored her second goal of the afternoon in the nineteenth minute. The onslaught continued as Hill struck again in the twentieth minute, making it a hat-trick and marking her twenty-second goal of the campaign.
With such a dominant 8-0 performance, the Bearcats started halftime twenty minutes early. After the premature halftime break, No. 23 Drew Thompson scored her third goal of the game, marking two Lady Bearcats to have hat-tricks. No. 9 sophomore halfback Loghan Thompson buried the tenth and final goal of the game off a cross, she was mauled by her teammates in celebration.
The girls’ 10-0 win caused the boys’ game to start earlier than anticipated. However, an early start couldn’t alter BHS’s outcome, as they dominated possession for a third of the game.
In the twelfth minute, junior midfielder No. 13 Angel Bonilla-Ortiz broke the deadlock with a swift and precise strike. His momentum carried on as he found the net again in the nineteenth minute, giving the Bearcats a solid lead.
Junior midfielder Henry Vanstone added to the goal fest in the twenty-ninth minute, securing a 5-0 lead. Just a minute later, Bonilla-Ortiz completed his hat trick, taking the score to 6-0 as the halftime whistle blew. This marked his fourteenth goal of the season.
The Bearcats kept their foot on the gas in the second half. Bonilla-Ortiz once again showcased his skills, scoring in the sixty-fifth minute right after Dougherty got on the board, to make it 7-1. No. 9 junior midfielder Eduardo Miranda added the final flourish in the seventieth minute, sealing an emphatic 8-1 victory. The Bearcats’ dominant performance in this region match left their opponents reeling and their fans cheering.
“That’s probably the first time we’ve had all our guys on the field at the same time,” Hill said. “We were able to possess a good bit and those guys have a lot of soccer experience, they’ve played up through the years with each other. You can tell they make a big difference when they’re all out there.”
BHS soccer will be back on the pitch on Thursday, March 20th, at Centennial Field, hosting the Cairo Syrupmaids and Syrupmakers at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
