SILOAM SPRINGS — Even though it was a nonconference match, Monday's boys soccer game between 7A/6A-West Conference foes Van Buren and Siloam Springs didn't lack for intensity.
Both teams battled through heavy rain in the first half and a torn up, muddy field in the second half. In the end, the Panthers and Pointers had to settle for a 4-4 tie at Glenn W. Black Stadium.
How they scored
BOYS
Siloam Springs 4, Van Buren 4
Van Buren^3^1^—^4
Siloam Springs^2^2^—4
First Half
Siloam Springs — Dominguez, 34:40
Siloam Springs — A. Umana, 18:04
Van Buren — Torres, 5:05
Van Buren — Rodriguez, 2:28
Van Buren — Osorio, 0:42
Second Half
Van Buren — Torres, 24:47
Siloam Springs — A. Umana, 22:43
Siloam Springs — Dominguez, 18:34
GIRLS
Siloam Springs 4, Van Buren 0
Van Buren^0^0^—^0
Siloam Springs^1^3^—^4
First Half
Siloam Springs — Gibson, 35:08
Second Half
Siloam Springs — Palacios, 33:32
Siloam Springs — Gibson, 13:05
Siloam Springs — Palacios, 4:28
Siloam Springs went up 2-0 in the game's first 22 minutes on goals from Alejandro Dominguez and Aldair Umana. In the final five minutes before halftime, the Pointers countered with their own onslaught of goals, scoring three times to go up 3-2 at halftime. Kevin Torres, Brad Rodriguez and Luis Osorio scored goals in the first half for Van Buren.
The Pointers (1-8-1) went up 4-2 on Torres' second goal of the night with 24:47 remaining and appeared to be on their way to a victory.
Siloam Springs answered just more than two minutes later with a goal from Umana on a set play. The Panthers (7-3-1) would tie the game with 18:34 remaining on a goal from Alejandro Dominguez.
Both teams had shots at game-winning goals in the final minutes.
Both team's coaches, Siloam Springs' Jason Bowen and Van Buren's Nathan Almond, expressed some excitement and disappointment in the result.
Bowen praised the Panthers' fight, but he said he was disappointed in the way they played overall, especially on defense.
"That's not the team we are," Bowen said. "(Van Buren) never let off of us. They pushed numbers up. We didn't adjust well. We had some back line issues where we didn't play like we were supposed to."
Almond said the Pointers have struggled scoring goals this season, which has contributed to their poor overall record. He said putting four goals in the net and having a chance at more was a positive. Almond also said the Pointers should have finished the job.
"We should have finished the game," he said. "When you go up 4-2, you've got to put the game away."
The two teams will play in a 7A/6A-West match May 8 at Blakemore Field in Van Buren.
Siloam Springs plays Friday at Bentonville in a conference game.
Girls
Siloam Springs 4, Van Buren 0
Siloam Springs got two goals each from Ingrid Gibson and Odalys Palacios to cruise past the Lady Pointers (1-9).
Gibson scored Siloam Springs' first goal less than five minutes into the game when she finished off a cross from Khenli Harp.
The Lady Panthers (7-5) didn't find the net again until the second half when Palacios made it 2-0 off a Jaci Hoelscher assist.
Gibson was fouled inside the 18-yard box and scored on a penalty kick with 13:05 remaining.
Palacios scored the Lady Panthers' last goal with 4:28 remaining.
Sports on 04/08/2014