The Bears tied a team record Tuesday afternoon with their fifth-straight win as they defeated the visiting Jones County Bobcats 5-0 in an MACJC South Division contest.

The win moved the Bears to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in South Division. The Bobcats dropped to 1-3-1, 0-1.

Ty Ware beat the Bobcats' defender down the line and crossed the ball to Santiago Martinez who then scored to put the Bears up 1-0 at 20:04 of the game. The Bears then led 2-0 at the half after Maximiliano Gigli scored on a header off a corner kick  delivered by Martinez at 38:26.

At 59:56, Ware cleaned up a loose ball inside the 18 and scored on an empty net to increase the Bears' lead to 3-0. Patrick Larsen made it 4-0 at 71:49 when he beat the Bobcats' keeper on a penalty kick.

The final goal came at 80:22 when P. J. Irwin scored on a header off a ball swung in by Nate Bond.

Keeper Conner Smothers saved the Bobcats' only shot on goal in recording his fourth shutout of the season.

"I'm extremely proud of the guys," said Bears head man Zach Mills. "They 10-15 minutes was just a little sloppy (by the Bears) and we started off slow, but then we got that goal (by Martinez) and really started hammering down and working hard for each other. When we (do that), things are going to open up and we found the goal four more times. Of course, the shutout's big, especially at home and against Jones County."

The Bears look to extend their winning streak to six games Saturday when they host the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs in a 3:00 South Division contest.

by Michael D. Gunnell

Southwest Sports Information