Soccer: Rogers High blanks Bentonville

Emma Welch (9) of Bentonville High tries to head the ball into the goal as Rogers High goalkeeper Mackenzie Brace grabs the ball Friday at Whitey Smith Stadium in Rogers.
Emma Welch (9) of Bentonville High tries to head the ball into the goal as Rogers High goalkeeper Mackenzie Brace grabs the ball Friday at Whitey Smith Stadium in Rogers.

ROGERS -- Senior forward Jessie Ramirez scored two goals, but the Rogers defense kept Bentonville from even getting many quality scoring chances in the Mounties' 3-0 win Friday evening in 7A-West boys soccer at Whitey Smith Stadium.

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Samuel Uzere (16) of Bentonville High and Alex Balderas (10) of Rogers High go after the ball Friday at Whitey Smith Stadium in Rogers.

Ramirez got a nice first touch on a ball, then blasted a shot past the Tigers keeper with 16 minutes, 47 seconds left in the first half to give Rogers all it would need.

Teammate Johan Rodriguez added another goal two minutes later, then Ramirez got another midway through the second half on a nice feed from Horacio Olivera.

Rogers (11-4, 9-2 7A-West) kept a hold on second place in the 7A-West with three matches left, but Mounties coach Steve Peck said his team played a strong team game in the win. Bentonville fell to 8-5-1 overall and 7-5 in the 7A-West.

"We played very good team soccer and we kept possession of the ball," Peck said. "When it did come down to our end, we defended well and got the ball and worked it out instead of just kicking it . We played very good possession soccer. It was a good night.

"Right now, I think we're peaking at the right time. After we play this next Tuesday there's literally a week left and then there's playoffs. I think we're doing it at the right time."

Peck also pointed to the play of his midfielders as a big key to his team's success. Olivera had perfect touch on a pass to Ramirez, but that's not unique, Peck said.

"That's what Horacio does, he passes well," Peck said. "He moves the ball around. He's very good with the ball at his feet. They distribute. Alex Balderas is the best distributor I have. He's just so smart, a step ahead of everybody. You throw on top of that Horacio who can keep the ball at his feet, passes well and moves well. The center mids are definitely our strength."

The Mounties host Bentonville West and play at Springdale High next week, before playing at Fayetteville in a make-up match on Monday, May 8.

Rogers Heritage 3, Bentonville West 2

Pedro Garcia scored with 2:30 left in the second half to snap a 2-2 tie and help the War Eagles grab the 7A-West Conference win.

Garcia had two goals, while Errol Banuelos added another as Heritage trailed 1-0 and 2-1, before rallying for the win.

Springdale Har-Ber 4, Fayetteville 0

Esteban Fuentes found the back of the net twice as Har-Ber picked up its second win in three matches this week to improve to 10-2 in the 7A-West.

Ivan Fuentes scored for the Wildcats as well and Gerardo Tavarez added the exclamation point on a penalty kick in the second half. Har-Ber has now won 12 of its last 13 matches overall.

Har-Ber and Fayetteville each return to conference play Tuesday. The Wildcats host Van Buren while Springdale rolls into Fayetteville.

Springdale High 6, Van Buren 0

Salvador Gonzalez netted a pair of goals Friday night at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium to lead Springdale to a three-win week.

In all, five players scored for Springdale. Jessie Gomez, Danny Maldonado, Jose Vega and Jesus Barroso aided Gonzalez in the mercy-rule win. After being outscored 8-0 during its three-match losing streak prior to this week, the Red'Dogs found the net 11 times and did not allow a goal in their three wins.

Springdale opens the final week of conference play with a short trip to Fayetteville on Tuesday.

Girls

Bentonville High 4, Rogers High 1

The Lady Tigers jumped to a 3-0 lead and cruised to the win to claim the No. 1 seed from the 7A-West for the upcoming state tournament at Whitey Smith Stadium.

Angelina Diaz scored off a rebound to give Bentonville (17-2, 12-0 7A-West) a 1-0 lead with 24:42 left in the first half. Teammate Lauren Hargus fired a shot that Rogers High keeper Mac Brace deflected, but Diaz was there to tap it back in. Hargus scored to push the Bentonville lead to 2-0 and Diaz scored again with 29:33 left in the second half off a feed from Emma Welch.

Leslie Barrales got Rogers (9-6-1, 7-4) on the board off a Bentonville turnover, but Hargus scored a second goal with less than 12 minutes left to set the final score.

Rogers Heritage 5, Bentonville West 4

The Lady War Eagles jumped to a 4-2 halftime lead and held off a late charge for the win.

Macie Bowman, Lanee Knight, Kenado Coones and Sarah Setzer each had first-half goals for Heritage. Grace Bracket added a second-half goal to go with an assist. Pam Seiler also contributed two assists.

Springdale Har-Ber 4, Fayetteville 1

Giselle Estrada scored twice Friday night to lead the Lady Wildcats to their second win of the week and 8-4 in 7A-West play.

Har-Ber led 3-0 at the half behind goals from Megan LaMendola, Estrada and MeKenna Taylor. Estrada, the Lady Wildcats' leading goal-scorer, later added her second goal of the night in the second half.

Fayetteville drops to 8-3 in the league with three matches, two on the road, ahead next week. Har-Ber opens next week at home against Van Buren.

Springdale High 5, Van Buren 1

Chela Razo recorded a hat trick against the Lady Pointers to lead the Lady Red'Dogs to their fourth win in conference matches.

Zoe Downum and Sarah Vogel also added goals for Springdale, which set a season-high for goals scored in a match. Van Buren remains winless in the 7A-West.

Springdale returns to play Tuesday at Fayetteville while the Lady Pointers visit Springdale Har-Ber.

Sports on 04/29/2017

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