The Bradley Central men's soccer team completed a busy week of soccer that saw them play four games in just three days.
The 19th-ranked Bears (5-2-2), according to MaxPreps Class AAA poll, kicked off the week with a 7-0 victory at home over the Sequoyah Chiefs (1-3).
Bradley dominated the game and time of possession from start to finish.
Valentine Simon recorded a "hat trick" for the Bears. He opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the game.
Erick Antonio put the Bears up 2-0 just under two minutes later with his first goal of the season.
Simon then recorded his second and third goals off the night with 11:14 and 10:23 remaining in the half.
Noble Rojas completed the first half scoring with 5:23 left for his first goal of the young season.
The Bear defense was especially tough in front of senior keeper Skylar Pirkle, not allowing a shot on goal in the first half.
The second half was much of the same as the Bears continued to dominate.
Reynaldo Vasquez pushed the score to 6-0 and Brandon Vives finished off the scoring for the Bears.
Spelling Pirkle early in the second half, junior Brady Russell recorded the only save of the game when the Chiefs got off their only shot on goal.
Bradley was back in action at the Soddy-Daisy Tournament Friday night against the host Trojans (2-2).
The Bears once again dominated the game to come away with a 3-0 victory.
Simon again opened the scoring for the Bears just 4:07 into the game.
Soddy had a chance to tie the game when they were awarded a penalty kick with just 7.5 seconds left in the first half. However, the PK was missed wide right, and the half ended with a 1-0 Bear advantage.
In the second half, Alan Lopez converted a free kick from 35 yards out that the Soddy keeper was unable to deflect over the bar.
The Bears tacked on one more when Simon struck for the second time.
Pirkle and his defense did the rest for the 3-0 shutout.
Playing twice on Saturday, Bradley took on Cumberland County (6-3-2), ranked third in Tennessee Class AA.
The Bears struck first and again it was Simon with a beautiful header inside the box for his sixth goal of the season.
The Jets however were awarded a penalty kick and converted to knot the score at one going into halftime.
In the second half Bradley continued to dominate possession, but could not find the back of the net.
Cumberland took the lead when they scored at the 20-minute mark. They made it 3-1 when a miscommunication led to an "own goal."
The Bears capped off their busy week just three hours later when they took on Lenoir City (2-0-1).
The Panthers had several chances in the first half but Pirkle and the Bradley "D" turned them away time-and-time again. Kaedon Howell, Erick Antonio and Alan Lopez lead the defensive effort.
The Panthers broke the scoreless tie eight minutes into the second half off a throw-in deep in BC territory.
Lenior City made it 2-0 with 15 minutes left off a 20-yard shot that found the nylon.
The Bears drew within one when Simon scored his seventh goal of the season off of a penalty kick, however they could not find the equalizer and lost by a final of 2-1.
Coaches Miguel Armenta and Samuel Lackey said despite the two losses on Saturday, they were pleased with the effort the Bears showed.
"We showed that when play our game, we are capable of playing with anyone," Armenta said.
Bradley is scheduled to go to Rhea County (4-2-1) this evening before opening District 6-AAA play Thursday at home against Ooltewah (0-3) at 5 (JV) and 7 p.m.
