ROGERS -- Rogers Heritage was missing top scoring forward Erol Banuelos on Thursday evening, but the War Eagles used a big second half to claim a 5-1 7A-West Conference win over Fort Smith Southside at Gates Stadium.
The War Eagles (5-2, 3-1 7A-West) started slow and were tied 1-1 at halftime with the Rebels, but scored a pair of quick goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half to claim the momentum and cruise to the win.
Christian Banuelos gave Heritage the 2-1 lead with 35 minutes, 22 seconds left in the second half and Pedro Garcia added another 5 minutes later. Sophomore Alejandro Perez then shot over the Southside keeper and in for a 4-1 Heritage lead with 18:55 left in the second half.
Heritage coach Christhian Saavedra said his team needed to be better, after a sub-par first half.
"We had to wake up," Saavedra said. "I told them they had 10 minutes to figure it out. It's all about momentum and that was not pretty for us. These guys are starting to believe in the big goal. I never have to tell these guys to work hard."
Erol Banuelos' status is uncertain, after suffering a high ankle sprain late in the win over Northside. But Saavedra said his group knows the group must play together. But Garcia scored a pair of second-half goals to help propel Heritage to the win.
"It's about a team and these guys know that and Pedro came through for us tonight," Saavedra said.
Southside coach Jeremy Davis said his Rebels (3-8, 0-4 7A-West) just weren't aggressive in the second half.
"They came out and they looked like they were ready to win the game from the first 10 minutes of the second half," Davis said. "They won every single ball that first 10 minutes and that carried over and we got our heads down a little bit."
Fort Smith Southside 3, Rogers Heritage 2
The Lady Rebels (5-6, 1-3 7A-West) built a 3-0 lead and held off a late Heritage charge to earn their first 7A-West Conference win.
Sophomore Kelly Carson scored twice and Nancy Mendoza added the third goal, which turned out to be huge. Heritage (7-2, 3-1 7A-West) charged back as Alexa Earp scored with 27:11 left in the second half and Amy Perez added another with 11:17 remaining, but the Lady War Eagles could get no more.
Sports on 04/01/2016