Long Beach High School Men’s Soccer Loses Overtime Thriller

By Charlie Rook

In what was almost an incredible upset by the Bearcats, the team was defeated by a final score of 3-1 against West Jones. The final score found the teams tied at 1-1 after the final whistle blew, but it was 2 goals from West Jones in the OT period that sealed the fate of the Bear Cats.

The Bearcats entered this contest a heavy underdog, playing a West Jones team ranked 15th in the state, and only had two losses all season. The Bearcats took the lead in the first half but couldn’t hold off the Mustangs, as they equalized in the second half before the game ended.

Braiden Bonds was the goal scorer for the Bearcats, as the senior nabbed his 32nd goal of the season. Perhaps the big story though is the Bearcats having to make a goalkeeping switch at the 80th minute to Sophomore Elam Johnson, after junior Gunnar Borden had to leave the game.

The team can hold their heads up high after a strong playoff run, and tight defeat to one of the state’s best. The Bearcats will now shift their focus to the off season, while West Jones looks to a semi final against George County.