SPRINGDALE -- Rogers Heritage put on a dominant first-half display in the opening round of the Northwest Arkansas Showcase.
Heritage scored three goals in the first half and eased to a 3-0 victory over Mustang, Okla., Friday in boys soccer action at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium. Erol Banuelos, Charlie Hernandez and Santiago Martinez scored goals in the first half to stake the War Eagles (3-0) to a big lead.
"My guys did a good job of taking care of their chances up top," Heritage coach Christian Saavodra said of the War Eagles' fast start. "Anytime you can come out in the first half a couple of goals ahead, you're in good shape."
Hernandez opened the scoring when he beat the Mustang goalie on a three-man rush with 25 minutes, 11 seconds left in the first half. Banuelos scored on an assist from Zach Gall to put the War Eagles ahead 2-0 with 18:48 left before the half. The War Eagles continued to control the ball on the Mustang end and scored its third goal on a shot by Martinez with 3:52 left before halftime.
Three goals were more than enough for Heritage's defense led by senior Ivan Salinas, who blocked shots and used his footwork to steal the ball from Mustang players on occasion.
"Ivan is a smart kid and he just knows where to be at all times," Saavodra said. "The guy he was matched up with was a couple of feet taller, but Ivan did a great job with him."
Mustang had few chances against the Heritage defense after a score on a corner kick was disallowed because the ball went out of bounds before landing in the net. Forward Colby Allen also missed on a header near the Heritage goal late in the first half.
Mustang (3-1) played evenly with Heritage in the second half, but could not avoid the shutout.
"We came out super flat and they put three (goals) on us in about the first 20 minutes," Mustang coach Jared Homer said. "That's a big hole to climb out of. We were all over them in the second half but we just couldn't put the ball past them. But they were ready to go in the first half and that was the difference in the game."
The Northwest Arkansas Showcase will continue today with six games at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium. Heritage will face Little Rock Catholic at 10:30 a.m. and Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe at 3 p.m.
Sports on 03/11/2017