The Grace Christian Academy Cougars soccer team opened their home season in strong fashion last week, shutting out Albany’s Byne Christian School 6-0 on Tuesday and blanking Emmanuel Christian School of Dothan, Ala., 3-0 on Thursday.

The Emmanuel game was the Cougars’ first Panhandle Christian Conference East Region game of the season. They are 3-2 overall and 1-0 in East Region Conference play.

The games were played at the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA field.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead over Byne when Alex Ward scored off a deflection just outside the six-yard box in the 15th minute. Bryce McQuaid assisted on the goal.

Ward’s second goal in the 19th minute came on a header from inside the six-yard box off a corner kick. Taylor McDonald assisted on the play.

T.J. Carlisle received a pass on the left side from Kyle Harris and kicked it into the net in the 40th minute to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

Bryce McQuaid scored the Cougars’ fourth and fifth goals in the 54th and 58th minutes. His first goal was unassisted and his second goal rebounded off the Byne goal keeper with an assist from Austin McQuaid.

The Cougars’ sixth and final goal against Byne came on an unassisted Taylor McDonald penalty kick following a handball in the 77th minute.

In their region opener against Emmanuel on Thursday, the Cougars were led by brothers Kyle and Chase Harris.

They quickly went up 2-0 when Kyle’s shot from 35 yards away sailed over the goal keepers head following a throw in from Taylor McDonald in the 8th minute.

In the 9th minute, Chase scored the Cougars’ second goal on an unassisted 25-yard arching shot that went off the Emmanuel goal keeper’s fingertips and into the net.

Kyle scored an unassisted insurance goal in the 32nd minute. He dribbled through the defense and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot from inside the 18 yard box. It was the second shutout of the season for Cougars goal keeper Grant McDonald.