SPRINGDALE -- Fredy Mendez' game-clinching save lifted Springdale Har-Ber to a thrilling 2-1 (7-6) win over Springdale High in a penalty kick shootout Tuesday after the teams combined to make their first 13 penalty kicks.
Selvin Umana made Har-Ber's seventh penalty kick, then Mendez, who got his hands on several earlier kicks, successfully deflected Springdale freshman Luis Garcia's attempt to finally end the back-and-forth battle between crosstown rivals.
Har-Ber (5-3, 4-2) earned its second straight big conference win, keeping momentum going after snapping defending state champion Bentonville's 26-game winning streak in a 2-0 win Friday.
"That's been our case so far this season, every time we've won we followed it up with a loss," Har-Ber coach Cory Butler said. "So it was good for the boys to come through with a win. This is realistically our first streak."
Both teams scored in the first 12 minutes Tuesday, then spent the remainder of the game engaged in a fast-paced, high-intensity deadlock, racing up and down the field with neither team able to maintain possession long or take advantage of scoring opportunities.
"It was entertaining for the fans," Butler said. "At times it was a bit sloppy for both teams, but as active as they were and as high-paced as they were, it was kind of expected. The Bentonville game was a little more possessive. The teams were knocking the ball around better. This game was more high tempo, put them under pressure and see who can score first."
The defeat left Springdale (7-5-1, 3-4) with a losing record after the first half of conference play, but the Bulldogs did have some of their key players back after coach DJ Beeler sat the team captains and several other starters in Friday's 2-0 win over Fayetteville.
"I told them even before penalties that I was pleased with the progress we made," Beeler said. "Just seeing guys playing hard for each other and just being a good team, that was encouraging. I'm hoping that we turned a corner."
Springdale will play at Bentonville on Friday. Har-Ber will play Fayetteville.
Girls
Har-Ber 1, Springdale 0 (4-3)
Raeghan Smithpeters' kick lifted Har-Ber to a 1-0 (4-3) win in a penalty kick shootout over Springdale on Tuesday.
Har-Ber goalkeeper Madeline Slaton came up with two saves during the shootout to help lift the Lady Wildcats (6-3, 4-2) to the win, along with making a huge stop on a Springdale breakaway in the second half of a scoreless regulation. That was one of the only scoring opportunities Springdale (1-8, 0-7) had all game, while Har-Ber had numerous chances but failed to convert or were turned away by Springdale goalkeeper Mekenna Taylor before winning in the shootout.
"We definitely wanted to get a couple goals early on and go into halftime with a lead," Har-Ber coach John Marshall said. "When you're playing your crosstown rival, it's just one of those games where you hope the girls are ready for it. We fell short of what we wanted to do today, but I'm glad we just won in PKs."
Sports on 04/15/2015