Whether they acknowledged it or not, the pressure was mounting on the Bryan County girls soccer team. They needed one win in their last three Region 3A-DII games to qualify for the GHSA state playoffs for a school record third straight season.

The Redskins lost the first two of those games—2-0 to Metter and 4-1 to Portal—so they were down to their last chance when they faced McIntosh County Academy at home on Tuesday night.

In a game that was typical of the way Bryan County’s season has gone, the two teams were deadlocked at the half, 0-0, before Kolbie English finally got the Redskins on the scoreboard when she scored with 34:14 left to play on a nifty assist from Haley Thomas.

Thomas, who has committed to play at Georgia Military College, then gave Coach Kristen Barnhill’s team some breathing room when she scored on a penalty kick from about 30 yards out with 25:17 to play.

English’s goal was like so many in soccer: quick and in the flash of an eye, often unexpected and coming out of a knot of players.

Thomas’ goal, however, was out in the open with all eyes riveted on her and it was a thing of beauty as she lofted her shot over five McIntosh defenders into the upper right corner of the goal. The goalkeeper had no chance of defending on what was a perfect placement.

With those two goals and another yeoman’s effort in goal by Liz Harvey the Redskins held on for a 2-0 win and a fourth-place finish in the region behind Screven County, Portal and Claxton.

Bryan County will conclude regular season play with four non-region games starting Thursday at Swainsboro. It will celebrate Senior Night on Friday against Treutlen County, host Southeast Bulloch on Tuesday and wrap up the season at Jenkins on April 17.

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for a team which has played a rugged schedule: the latest GHSA power rankings have Screven ranked No. 2 in the state, Portal No. 4 and Claxton No. 9. Bryan County is ranked No. 17.

Barnhill is hoping the win will give her team a much-needed shot in the arm heading into the playoffs. It will face No. 1 Irwin County (13-1) in the second round, both having received a first-round bye because there were not enough teams to fill out the bracket.

“It was good to end the losing streak,” Barnhill said. “The kids were getting a little discouraged but we’ve pumped them up the last couple of days and kept the energy level high to get back on the winning side of the scoreboard.”

Barnhill and English credited a formation change as hopefully helping turn some things around as the season enters its final stages.

“I feel like with our new formation we have going on, it's making us work together better and move the ball forward,” English said. “We’re playing better together and Haley is doing a great job of leading us. She’s the one who has kept our confidence up and encouraged us to be the best we can.”

English, a diminutive junior who might hit 100 pounds on a good day, and Thomas lead the Redskins in scoring with nine goals each. Thomas also has a team high six assists.

Harvey had seven saves against the Bucs and now has 105 on the season after moving into goal after an early stint playing on the field. The talented junior also has four goals and two assists. She has allowed only 14 goals on the season.

Coming off a season in which they hosted and won a state playoff game for the first time in school history the Redskins (5-8, 4-6) have played a demanding schedule and have found themselves in the unusual position of being the hunted rather than the hunter.

The roster is loaded with multi-sport athletes who are accustomed to winning and the offensive struggles—the Redskins have scored 25 goals while allowing 36—have made it a more difficult season mentally for the younger players.

“Some of these kids new to soccer have a difficult time bouncing back,” Barnhill said. “They work hard and they get disappointed at losing. But at practice the next day we’ve got kids who say “Hey, let’s go, let’s go.’

“We’ve had some injuries, too,” Barnhill said. “We’re trying some things out and have changed formations. Some of the girls were iffy but they’re buying in.

“We’re in the playoffs now because we play tough games every day,” Barnhill said. “I think we’re going to match up with whoever we play.”