Bentonville has two tournament trophies and no losses two weeks into the soccer season.
The Tigers wrapped up an impressive weekend at the NWA Showcase by beating host Springdale High 2-0 in the championship match Saturday night to claim the title a week after winning a tournament at Fort Smith Northside.
"I'm sort of torn," Bentonville coach Mike Devaney said. "I'm certainly pleased with where we are. But I still don't think we're playing as well as we can play going forward. I think that's the positive, because we've won some games against really good teams.
"But if you'd have asked me at the beginning of the season if we'd be 6-0-1, I'd have said no because we're playing some awfully good teams. I'm very pleased with where we're at."
Bentonville (6-0-1) went 3-0 in the NWA Showcase, beating Bryant 3-0 on Friday, then knocking off Edmond (Okla.) Memorial in a penalty kicks shootout after tying 1-1 in regulation on Saturday morning, a victory that allowed the Tigers to win the Group A pool and advance to the title game.
And then Bentonville earned the 2-0 win over Springdale, a big win over a team that has finished first or second in the conference the last six years and made it to the state championship match each of the last two years, including winning in 2012.
"We beat three quality teams," Devaney said. "We beat Bryant. We beat Edmond, who was a good team. And then certainly Springdale has been the class of the 7A for the last three or four years. So to get a good result against them certainly gives you a lot of confidence."
Junior Josh Howard put Bentonville on the board midway through the first half against Springdale, scoring from about 25 yards out.
"It just kind of snuck inside the post," Devaney said. "It was a good strike."
And Tolliver Davis scored shortly after to give the Tigers a comfy two-goal cushion they wouldn't relinquish.
But Bentonville's defense was the key in the match, much like it has been so far this season. The Tigers recorded the shutout, continuing the stingy defensive play that has led to just three goals allowed in their seven matches.
"We're returning all of the four defenders we started last year and the starting goalkeeper (sophomore Ben Barron)," Devaney said. "So I think that was always going to be a strength for us."
And Bentonville's two-goalie rotation has proved successful as Barron and freshman Sam Ervin are both playing well early in the season while splitting time.
"Both of those kids have played a half each in all seven of the games that we've played," Devaney said. "They've been absolutely terrific. They really have. Both of them have been superb."
Springdale (3-1-1) fell in the championship game after beating Russellville 4-0 on Saturday morning to advance to the finale. Andy Flores scored two second-half goals to help the Bulldogs pull away, but they finished the weekend 1-1-1 after ending in a 2-2 tie with crosstown rival Springdale Har-Ber on Friday night.
Edmond Memorial beat Russellville 3-1 to finish third in the six-team tournament, while Bryant topped Har-Ber 3-0 in the consolation game.
On the girls side, Bentonville claimed the top spot after winning a pair of matches on Saturday. The Lady Tigers rolled past Springdale Har-Ber 4-1, then blanked Mount St. Mary 3-0 in a rematch of last season's Class 7A state title match. Bryant finished second after it defeated Har-Ber 2-1.
Sports on 03/17/2014