Host Community Christian needed a halftime pep talk from head coach Carl Bradshaw to pull away from New Bern Christian in a 5-1 victory in the first round of the Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association girls soccer playoffs Monday.

The Chargers (13-2-2) scored first as Ava Dunn finished a through ball from Autumn Bradshaw but New Bern Christian (4-6-1) answered shortly thereafter on a goal by Lily Davis.

However, CCS would reclaim the lead just three minutes before halftime began when Dunn punched in her second goal, this time with senior Abigail Jackson on the assist.

“At halftime, I told the girls that if we wanted to keep the lead and win the game, we had to be first to every ball,” CCS head coach Carl Bradshaw said. “We weren’t going to be spectators, and we were going to need to use the entire field to play the game. The girls came out in the second half with much more desire and hustle.”

Autumn Bradshaw scored in unassisted fashion before Abril Ventura and Aspen Evans finished the scoring. Evans assisted on Ventura’s goal while Bradshaw provided the helper on Evans’ score.

Carl Bradshaw praised the play of defenders Tate Misback, Mary Abigail Lewin and Jackson on New Bern’s top threat, Davis. 

“They all took turns marking her throughout the game, and their energy against her, their pressure on the ball when she received it and their ability to keep her out of the box really allowed us to be successful throughout the game,” he said. 

The Cyclones will take on Gramercy Christian at noon Friday in the MACAA semifinals at Faith Christian in Goldsboro.