SILOAM SPRINGS — A move up in classification hasn’t changed expectations for the Siloam Springs boys soccer team.
The two-time defending Class 5A state champions know the road to the Class 6A playoffs starts with a conference season in the rugged 7A/6A-West. At the end of the year, the Panthers believe they’ll be in the conversation for another state title.
“Moving into the 7A-West, there’s not a better conference in the state soccerwise,” said Siloam Springs soccer coach Jason Bowen, who is entering his 10th season at the helm of the Siloam Springs program and has compiled a record of 138-51-12.
Schedule
Siloam Springs Panthers
Date Opponent Time
Feb. 14 Maroon and Gray N/A
Feb. 18 Gentry (benefit) N/A
Feb. 26 at Harrison 7 p.m.
March 1 Decatur 7 p.m.
March 7 Berryville 7 p.m.
March 9 at Harrison Invitational TBA
March 12 Tahlequah, Okla. 8 p.m.
March 14 at Westville, Okla. 7 p.m.
March 15 at Huntsville 7 p.m.
March 16 at Harrison ReMax Tournament TBA
March 29 Springdale* 8 p.m.
April 2 at Green Forest 7 p.m.
April 9 at Fayetteville* 8 p.m.
April 11 at Springdale Har-Ber* 8 p.m.
April 16 Bentonville* 8 p.m.
April 19 at Rogers* 8 p.m.
April 25 Rogers Heritage* 8 p.m.
May 2 at Van Buren* 8 p.m.
May 3 Rogers (nonconference) 7 p.m.
May 9-11 State Tournament (in Searcy) TBA
May 17-18 State Finals
*Denotes 7A/6A-West Conference match
“We feel good about going to the 6A playoffs. We don’t have the depth we’ve had the last two years, but we have a quality team.”
The Panthers have been either champions or co-champions the last seven years in the 5A-West. Bowen knows reaching that same feat in the 7A/6A-West may be too tall of an order against teams like defending Class 7A state champion Springdale High and other conference powers such as Rogers High, Rogers Heritage, Bentonville, Springdale Har-Ber, Fayetteville and Van Buren.
The Panthers will play each of those teams once instead of twice like conference play in the 5A-West.
“I know that it’s going to take some loving on those guys,” Bowen said. “We’re going to take some lumps. I’m going to be honest with you. It’s not going to be an easy road. There’s a possibility we may go into the playoffs with a losing record and come out as a state champion in the end.”
The Panthers return the bulk of their roster from last season with two key subtractions. Siloam Springs must find a way to generate goals after losing the scoring production of all-state forward Collin Matheny and four-time all-state midfielder Gustavo Peraza, who combined to score 82 goals in the last two seasons.
“We’ve got to find some goal scorers,” Bowen said.
Instead of looking for one or two dynamic scorers, Siloam Springs may turn to a bevy of players to find offense. Senior Will Easley, who signed with John Brown last week, has scored 18 goals and dished out 12 assists in the last two years. Junior Alejandro Dominguez missed most of the regular season as a sophomore but returned in time for the playoffs and has potential scoring goals. Sophomore James Pollard got hot during the Class 5A playoffs, scoring three goals in the Panthers’ title run.
Dominguez will play up top at forward with Easley and Pollard playing more of an attacking midfielder position. Mikey Vasquez also returns at midfielder, and the Panthers feel good about sophomore Christian Perez, senior Edwin Ramirez and freshman Aldair Umana at midfield.
“If everybody stays healthy and we can develop a couple of more midfielders, I feel pretty good about our chances once we get to the playoffs,” Bowen said.
Defensively, everyone is back from a team that produced 12 shutouts in 2012. Siloam Springs did not allow a goal in the last four games on the road to a state title.
The leader in the back is team captain Mario Flores, who was the state tournament MVP a year ago. He returns at center back along with senior Jose Reyes. Yoshi Umana and Bryan Marroquin return at outside back positons while Abraham Aguirre is back at a holding defensive midfielder spot.
“Defensively we’re just as good as we were last year,” Bowen said.
The Panthers will begin the season with sophomore Lucas Nitz in goal while last year’s starter Raul Leyva finishes out the season in basketball.