ROGERS — Rogers High is coming off a big win over Springdale Har-Ber and the Lady Mounties will look to build momentum heading into the Class 7A State Tournament when they play crosstown rival Rogers Heritage. A Lady Mounties win could vault them to the No. 3 seed from the West.
“That is such a big emotional game for us,” Rogers coach Taylor Hayes said. “I hope our girls continue to come out and play well.”
Rogers (12-4-2, 4-2) was mostly listless in the first half against Har-Ber and then won 2-1 on goals by Madison Dake and McKinzie James.
“Madison took a cross pass and put it through to give us a big lift,”Hayes said. “That got us going then McKinzie made that shot to put us ahead. It was a great win for our team because Har-Ber is really good.”
On facing rival Rogers Heritage to end regular season.
Heritage Gets Set For Rivals
Rogers Heritage closes 7A/6A-West Conference play on Thursday with rival Rogers High, which will make both matches competitive, but that’s not all that will be on the line at Mounties Stadium.
Both the War Eagles (17-2, 4-2 7A/6A-West) and Lady War Eagles (14-4, 3-3) could move up or down in the state tournament seedings depending on Thursday’s outcomes.
In addition coach Craig Frank, who coaches both Heritage teams, is closing in on his 300th win. He notched No. 298 on Saturday afternoon when the Lady War Eagles blanked Jefferson City, Mo., 2-0 in the Laker Invitational in Camdenton, Mo.
No matter what the outcome of the tournament’s championship match, which was played Saturday evening, Heritage could deliver win No. 300 to its coach on Thursday. Frank said he had no idea that he’d remain in coaching this long when he started as an assistant in 1988.
“It’s really a great accomplishment,” Frank said.”It will come at some point.”
— PAUL BOYD
Springdale Teams To Decide Title
It’ll be an all-Springdale showdown for the boys soccer championship in the 7A/6A-West Conference.
The teams remained undefeated in the league with Har-Ber beating Rogers High 3-1 and Springdale edging Fayetteville 3-2. The deciding game for the conference championship will be played Friday at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.
“I can’t be prouder of a group of young men,” said Nelson Medina, the Wildcats’ first-year head coach. “We’ve been the doormat of the league and the state, really. There are no superstars on this team. Just a bunch of blue-collar guys who believe in what we’re going.”
Har-Ber (9-7-1, 6-0) received two goals by Miguel Gomez and one from Cole Brothers against Rogers. Danny Garcia scored for the Mounties (11-7, 2-4).
— RICK FIRES
Lady Bulldogs Still In Conference Race
The battle for a 7A/6A-West Conference girls soccer championship is down to two teams, and Fayetteville is one of the two.
The Lady Bulldogs entered last week’s schedule in a tie with Springdale Har-Ber for second place. But Fayetteville’s 3-2 win against Springdale, couple with Har-Ber’s loss to Rogers High on Friday, has left Fayetteville alone in second with just one game left.
Fayetteville sits one game behind Bentonville in the conference standings and will have a chance to share the title with the Lady Tigers when the two teams meet Friday at Harmon Stadium.
The Lady Bulldogs (12-4, 5-1 7A/6A-West) stayed one game behind Bentonville in the standings with a hardfought win against Springdale. After falling behind 1-0 with 10 minutes, 17 seconds left in the first half, the Lady Purple’Dogs benefited from a Springdale penalty to even the match on a Taylor Ward goal a 2:00 before half.
The contest remained 1-1 for much of the second half until Gabbi Foster and Cassidy Sykes reeled off back-to-back goals in a six-minute stretch late in the game.
— VERNON TARVER
Tigers’ Tourney Hopes Alive
An 0-3 start in 7A/6A-West Conference play placed Bentonville’s boys in an unfavorable spot toward a state tournament berth, but the Tigers’ situation has now greatly improved since that point.
Bentonville (6-8-2, 2-4) kept its playoff hopes alive Friday with an 8-0 victory over Van Buren, and the Tigers can clinch a spot with a victory next week at Fayetteville. Bentonville still has an opportunity to finish as high as a No. 5 seed.
“I told our players that we would have to win three of our last four matches,” Bentonville coach Mike Devaney said. “We have now won two out of three, and that sets up a super important match.
The Tigers had struggled with their scoring in recent matches, but that wasn’t the case against Van Buren. Josh Howard had two first-half goals as Bentonville jumped out to a 3-0 lead, while Hector Ramos and Nathan Wunschel also had two goals before the match ended.
— HENRY APPLE