7A champs pass chemistry test

Bentonville Coach Kristina Henry insisted she wasn’t sick - she was just a little hoarse, she said - the week after leading the Tigers to a Class 7A girls state soccer championship.

“Just from yelling all weekend,” Henry said with a little laugh.

Henry, who coached Bentonville to a 2-1 victory over Mount St. Mary in the final, has been named the All-Arkansas Preps high school girls soccer coach of the year.

“It’s still a blur,” Henry said.

Henry can thank Tayler Estrada, Bentonville’s top scorer, for the fuzzy finish.

Estrada, a senior midfielder/forward, has been named the All-Arkansas Preps Miss Soccer for 2013.

Bentonville’s success was the result of stalwart performances from role players, its defense and Estrada, who finished with a team-high 20 goals and 25 assists.

“She means a tremendous amount to us,” Henry said. “When we need her all-out attacking, she’ll attack. When we need her to defend, she’ll defend.”

Henry said Estrada’s willingness to take on any role was evident in the state championship game. Estrada didn’t have a goal or assist, but was a key defensive contributor in her final game with the Tigers.

“She knows how to make herself dangerous,” Henry said.

Estrada, the state’s Gatorade girls soccer player of the year last season, has signed a letter of intent to play for Kansas next season. She said she believed the state championship game came down to composure against a “frantic” Mount St. Mary team.

“We just wanted to stay in control and play our game,” Estrada said. “I think that’s what won it for us.”

Henry, who has coached Bentonville since 1999, said Estrada’s presence on the field made the rest of the team better.

“We’re not stacked, we just know how to use each other,” Henry said.

Mount St. Mary’s attention on Estrada opened up the game for sophomore McKenzie Dixon, who had assists on both goals in the championship victory.

“She didn’t freak out,” Estrada said of Dixon. “It’s good to have players who know how to pass, who know how to defend, and know that I might not be open all the time.”